UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals Excel in All 10 Specialties in 2019-20 U.S. News & World Report

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals rank among the nation’s best in all 10 specialties assessed in the 2019-20 U.S. News & World Report annual survey of Best Children’s Hospitals, reflecting the quality of care offered to patients throughout Northern California and beyond.

Together, the two hospitals in Oakland and San Francisco were ranked fifth nationwide and best in the West in neonatology, and were recognized as the best in Northern California in pediatric cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, and neurology and neurosurgery. They also scored highly in five other pediatric specialties: diabetes, kidney disorders, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology.

“We are very gratified that UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals continue to be recognized by the U.S. News annual survey for excellence in pediatric care,” said Mark R. Laret, president and chief executive officer of UCSF Health. “These rankings highlight the tremendous dedication and commitment to excellence our physicians, nurses, technicians, and other health care providers and staff demonstrate each day.” 

The annual rankings, released June 18, 2019, serve as a guide of hospitals nationwide that excel in treating children with the most challenging diagnoses.

“This is a wonderful validation of the tremendous work that our clinical teams have performed over the past few years as we work to unify efforts across our hospitals,” said Michael Anderson, MD, MBA, a pediatrician and president of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. “Our steady upward progress across these specialties reflects a daily commitment to providing the best care for our most vulnerable children.” 

The 2019-20 results represent the 13^th year of the pediatric rankings. The methodology reflects clinical outcomes, such as patient survival, infection rates and complications; the level of hospital resources directly related to patient care, including staffing, special services and technology; delivery of health care, such as programs to prevent infection and promote adherence to best practices; and expert opinion from surveys of more than 11,000 pediatric specialists.

Among the 191 children’s hospitals reviewed this year, 84 hospitals were ranked among the top 50 in at least one specialty. Each facility was either a freestanding children’s hospital or an autonomous, multidisciplinary pediatric department within a major medical center.

The complete list of children’s hospital rankings is available online and will be published in the Best Hospitals print guide.

U.S. News will publish its adult hospital rankings July 30, 2019.

About UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals are among the nation’s leading pediatric specialty hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings. Their expertise covers virtually all pediatric conditions, including cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, pulmonology, diabetes and endocrinology, as well as the care of critically ill newborns. The two campuses in San Francisco and Oakland are known worldwide for basic and clinical research and are at the forefront of translating research into interventions for treating and preventing pediatric disease. They are part of UCSF Health, whose adult hospital ranks among the top 10 medical centers nationwide and serves as the teaching hospital for the University of California, San Francisco, a national leader in biomedical research and graduate-level health/sciences education.