UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Ranked Among Nation’s Best

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital ranks among the nation's best children's hospitals in nine specialties and is one of the top-ranked centers in California, according to the 2013-2014 Best Children's Hospitals survey conducted by the U.S. News Media Group.

The rankings highlight the top 50 U.S. hospitals in each of the following pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology. UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital earned its highest rankings in the specialties of diabetes and endocrinology, nephrology, cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, and gastroenterology.

♦  UCSF is one of the top-ranked pediatric facilities in California, and the top Northern California children’s hospital in cancer, diabetes and endocrinology and neurology.

♦  This year, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital’s ranking improved in every specialty.

UCSF is one of the top pediatric facilities in California, and the top Northern California children’s hospital in cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, and neurology, according to the rankings.

"As San Francisco's only children's hospital, we are proud of our team of dedicated clinicians who continually strive to lead the way in providing world-class quality care to children and families," said Kimberly Scurr, executive director of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. "We look forward to expanding our services in 2015, with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art children’s hospital in Mission Bay.”

The survey methodology is based on a three-part blend of reputation, medical outcomes and care-related indicators such as patient volume, nurse staffing, clinical support services and other factors. Hospitals were judged on a combination of opinions from pediatric specialists about the hospitals they would recommend for the sickest children and data gathered in a lengthy survey covering a range of important medical information.

This year, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital’s ranking improved in every specialty, due in part to two significant milestones. In 2012, the hospital implemented of one of the most comprehensive electronic health records systems in the United States.  Additionally, the hospital was awarded the prestigious Magnet designation for excellence in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

"The excellent patient care at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital is underscored by its commitment to the research conducted by our outstanding physician-scientists who translate laboratory discoveries into effective treatments for patients, and to educating the future physicians who care for our children," said Donna Ferriero, MD, physician-in-chief of UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.

The complete list of children's hospital rankings is available online,  and will be published in the upcoming Best Hospitals print guide, published by U.S. News, available on newsstands Aug. 27.

Photo by Susan Merrell