Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Ranks Among the Nation’s Best in Pediatric Specialty Care

For Release: June 27, 2017

STANFORD, Calif. — In the U.S. News & World Report’s 2017–2018 Best Children’s Hospitals survey, which was published online today, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford once again achieved rankings in all ten pediatric specialties. The hospital is at the center of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, the Bay Area’s largest health care network exclusively dedicated to children and expectant mothers, and it is the only children’s hospital in Northern California to be ranked in all 10 specialties in this year’s survey.

Most notably, Packard Children’s nephrology program received the top ranking in the state and placed #8 in the entire nation. The pulmonology program ranked best on the West Coast and #11 in the nation. And the cardiology and heart surgery program is once again the top ranked in Northern California.

The U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals rankings help parents select the best medical care for their children. Rankings are determined by gathering clinical data from approximately 180 pediatric centers through a detailed survey that ranks the top 50 centers in 10 medical specialties.

“As we approach the debut of our newly expanded hospital this year, these rankings affirm the quality of specialty care that we are so proud to provide our patients,” said Christopher G. Dawes, Packard Children’s president and chief executive officer. “That quality will be amplified in our new, state-of-the-art facility when it opens in December.”

The new main building adds 149 patient beds, nearly all of them private, which Dawes says will serve to improve safety and quality as well as the patient experience. The expanded campus includes 3.5 acres of green space and gardens and will more than double the size of the current hospital. It will also allow for the original building to undergo enhancement renovations.

This is the thirteenth consecutive year Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report. The annual rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the United States in 10 pediatric specialties, including cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology.

“The pediatric centers we rank in Best Children’s Hospitals deliver exceptionally high-quality care and deserve to be recognized for their commitment,” said Avery Comarow, U.S. News & World Report’s health rankings editor. “Children with life-threatening illnesses or rare conditions need the state-of-the-art services and expertise these hospitals provide every day.”

“This accomplishment is a tribute to our talented and compassionate providers,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine. “We at Stanford Medicine are extremely pleased to again see Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford recognized by U.S. News & World Report for delivering world-class care to children and expectant mothers.”

“It’s an ongoing testament to the Stanford Medicine expertise and training,” agreed Dawes. “This is an exciting and transformative year as we open our new hospital and continue to grow our network — these rankings serve as benchmarks along our path toward fulfilling our vision to heal humanity through science and compassion, one child and family at a time.”