Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Reverified as Level I Children’s Surgery Center by American College of Surgeons

The hospital is one of only three Level I Children’s Surgery Centers in Northern California and one of five in the entire state.

March 12, 2025

PALO ALTO, Calif.—Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, the heart of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, has been reverified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Children’s Surgery Verification Program—the highest designation a hospital can receive.

Packard Children’s has a long-standing tradition of providing exceptional care for the most complex pediatric patients, supported by a robust culture of safety, the integration of cutting-edge technologies, and a relentless pursuit of continuous improvement at all levels. The hospital’s surgical teams perform over 15,000 surgical and procedural cases annually.

“This reverification is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire surgical team and all the teams and leaders who interact with surgical patients,” says Karthik Balakrishnan, MD, MPH, Susan B. Ford Surgeon-in-Chief at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. “This achievement affirms we are on the cutting edge in providing surgical treatment to children in the safest possible environment.”

Recognizing the unique needs of pediatric patients, the ACS Level I designation signifies that Packard Children’s possesses the specialized resources and multidisciplinary expertise necessary to deliver the highest standard of surgical care. This includes dedicated pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses, technicians, and other specialists across the care continuum and the lifespan from before birth to adulthood.

“Quality, safety, and family-centered care remain at the core of everything we do,” says Rick Majzun, president and COO of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. “We are very proud that the ACS recognizes our world-class care for patients and families.”

Families choosing a Level I children’s surgery center can expect:

• Comprehensive care from board-certified pediatric surgeons for all surgical needs of newborns, children, and teens.
• Dedicated, 24/7 pediatric operating rooms.
• Around-the-clock availability of pediatric anesthesiologists and radiologists.
• Specialized pediatric advanced practice providers, nurses, and technical staff.
• Access to all pediatric specialty providers, including acute and critical care.
• A highly trained transport team specializing in critical care transport for neonatal and pediatric patients.
• Commitment to educating pediatric residents, fellows, and health leaders in research and education.

A team of ACS surveyors, consisting of an experienced pediatric surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nurse, evaluated the hospital’s infrastructure, processes, and clinical outcomes data during an extensive site visit. Their report highlighted that the surgical program offers robust services and high-quality care.

“At Stanford Children’s, we have a strong commitment to improvement, and that happens by fostering a culture of open dialogue and transparency,” says Jesus Cepero, PhD, RN, chief nursing officer of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. “We’ve seen this lead to meaningful change to ensure that our patients are getting the absolute best care. We look forward to raising the bar for surgical excellence and continuing to provide world-class care to every patient and family, every time.”

Media Contact

Katie Chen
KatChen@stanfordchildrens.org
(650) 465-4872