ST. LOUIS, January 4, 2005 -- For the second consecutive time, St. Louis Children's Hospital has been named one of the nation’s 10 Best pediatric hospitals by Child magazine. Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the region and the state of Missouri to achieve this elite ranking.
The listing is the result of an eight-month evaluation by Child, which surveyed more than 100 pediatric hospitals nationwide. The results will be published in the magazine’s February 2005 edition, which hits newsstands January 11.
"In order to identify these top children's hospitals, we followed a comprehensive and rigorous methodology and examined criteria such as survival rates, staff qualifications, Child Life programs, safety issues, and much more," says Miriam Arond, Child magazine editor-in-chief. "Our goal is to highlight those pediatric institutions that are excelling in their mission as well as to make parents aware of what services and qualities to look for in their local hospitals."
This year's survey was the most rigid to-date. The pool of eligible hospitals grew considerably from the last survey taken two years ago. As a result, the competition was tougher than ever. Four of the top ten hospitals ranked on the previous list in 2003 did not make this new listing.
The survey also identified the top ten children's hospitals in the specialties of cardiology, oncology, neonatology, orthopedics and emergency medicine. St. Louis Children’s Hospital ranked 3rd in the nation for emergency medicine and 9th for both cardiology and oncology.
"It's wonderful to see the facility as a whole, and the emergency, cardiology and oncology departments singled out to receive this much-deserved honor," says Hospital President Lee Fetter. "It’s a testament to the top talent and remarkable dedication of our entire staff and physician partners at Washington University School of Medicine."
In addition to the exciting physical design of the emergency room – including a zoo-themed waiting area and a registration space resembling a train -- physicians have developed a novel approach to managing children's pain and anxiety by using sedation, like nitrous oxide, to ease stressful or painful treatments.. "We've managed to make a visit to the ER an 'ouchless' experience worthy of the nation's attention in Child magazine," says Fetter.
The hospital’s cardiology ranking is evidenced by some major milestones achieved over the past year: the region’s first heart transplant between non-compatible blood types; a pacemaker implanted into the world's youngest recipient; the opening of a preventive cardiology clinic dedicated to treating children with heart disease risk factors; and a program that diagnoses -- and subsequently treats -- congenital heart disease in fetuses.
The magazine recognized the oncology unit based largely on the team's overwhelming success in treating childhood cancers. SLCH physicians credit the positive outcomes to a unique multi-disciplinary approach, where physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and all related specialists collaborate to determine the most effective care for the patient. Programs advancing
the field include the development of new chemotherapy regimens and novel strategies in bone marrow transplantation. Building on the encouraging success rates of cancer treatment, the hematology/oncology team also established a new clinic to treat long term effects of cancer therapy.
Children's Hospital further impressed magazine surveyors with its non-clinical attractions, like the horticulturist who plans parties in the Olson rooftop garden, helps kids hatch butterflies and collaborates with the hospital’s head chef to plant herbs with the children. The head chef also plans picnics, luaus, and cookie-decorating parties, just to name a few of the activities and programs available to young patients.
"I constantly heard that Child magazine's survey is a learning tool for hospitals," says Emily Turk, a writer who spoke to several hospitals about their experiences. "One hospital even said the survey sets performance standards for all hospitals to shoot for."
To be considered for the report, a hospital must be among the full-voting members of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions: 144 hospitals qualified. Child magazine narrowed the field to nearly 100 based on each hospital's evaluation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), an agency that visits each hospital and grades on medication use, anesthesia care, infection control and more.
All of the semi-finalists then received a detailed 164-question survey developed in conjunction with a team of advisors engaged specifically for this project. The survey included questions about survival rates for childhood cancers, heart surgeries, organ transplants and premature births. Questions were asked about nurse-to-patient ratios; community outreach programs; research funding and the number of clinical trials; the availability of playrooms, lending libraries and activities to help a child's hospital experience seem less frightening; and family services like support groups and sleeping accommodations for parents.
Child magazine began its first review of pediatric hospitals five years ago. The rankings are published every two years, and are the only comprehensive, data-driven ranking of pediatric institutions in the United States.
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Update: St. Louis Children's Hospital has been ranked #7 in the Nation by Child magazine for 2007! Please click here for the article.