Ten specialties at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s 2011-12 Best Children’s Hospitals

Contact: Julie Pedretti, (414) 266-5420 or (866) 416-1511

MILWAUKEE (May 17, 2011) – Ten pediatric specialties at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin have been ranked in the 2011-12 edition of U.S. News Media Group’s Best Children’s Hospitals list, now available online at usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

The rankings include: Cardiology and Heart Surgery, 8; Gastroenterology, 16; Pulmonology, 19; Orthopedics, 28; Neonatology, 28; Urology, 30; Nephrology, 31; Neurology and Neurosurgery, 33; Cancer, 33; and Diabetes and Endocrinology, 35.

The new rankings recognize the top 50 children’s hospitals in 10 specialties. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin ranked in the top 35 for all 10 specialties. Seventy-six hospitals are ranked in at least one specialty.

“We salute Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin,” said Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. “The goal of the Best Children’s Hospitals rankings is to call attention to pediatric centers with the expertise to help the sickest kids, and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is one of those centers.”

“I am proud that Children’s Hospital is a national leader in pediatric health care,” said Cindy Christensen, JD, RN, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. “We use this annual survey as one of the tools for our ongoing efforts to improve the quality and safety of our care to newborns, infants and children. Each year, we see the results as an indication of the knowledge, compassion and dedication of everyone who provides direct patient care or supports those who do.”

Now in its fifth year, Best Children’s Hospitals pulls together clinical and operational data from a lengthy survey, completed by the majority of the 177 hospitals asked to participate for the 2011-12 rankings. The survey asks hundreds of questions about survival rates, nurse staffing, subspecialist availability and many more pieces of critical information difficult or impossible for parents to find on their own. The data from the survey is combined with recommendations from pediatric specialists on the hospitals they consider best for children with challenging problems.

For the full rankings and methodology, visit usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, founded in 1894, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is rated No. 3 in the nation by Parents magazine and named one of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals by U.S.News & World Report. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons. The hospital has been redesignated a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a national honor that recognizes nursing excellence. Private, independent and not-for-profit, the hospital serves children and families from Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, northern Illinois and beyond. Children’s Hospital is the flagship member of Children’s Hospital and Health System. In 2009, the health system invested more than $76 million back into the community to improve the health status of children. For more information, visit the website at chw.org.