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For eighth consecutive year, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital ranks among best in nation

For the eighth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Penn State Health Children’s Hospital among the Best Children's Hospitals in multiple specialties.

The Children's Hospital ranked in cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, and nephrology in the 2018-2019 rankings.

“This recognition reinforces the commitment of our physicians, nurses and other staff to delivering the highest level of pediatric specialty care to children right here in central Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Leslie Walker-Harding, chair of pediatrics at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. “Most of all, we are proud of the trust families have in our care for their children.”

The recognition was of little surprise to Heather Myers, whose daughter Olivia underwent surgery at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital after being born with a rare congenital heart disorder. She is now a healthy five-year-old girl.

“We are lucky to be as close as we are to that hospital,” said Myers, whose family lives outside Chambersburg. “Dr. [Brian] Clark was amazing, with a very comforting demeanor. And I felt like the nurses were angels looking out for Olivia and our family.”

The U.S. News rankings highlight the top 50 U.S. hospitals in each of ten pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology.

“All of the members of our team work together every day to look after the physical and emotional needs of patients in our Children's Hospital, and to provide them with the highest quality and most compassionate care,” said Dr. A. Craig Hillemeier, dean of Penn State College of Medicine, chief executive officer of Penn State Health and Penn State's senior vice president for health affairs. “It's great to see their efforts recognized at such a high level, year after year.”

U.S. News introduced the Best Children's Hospitals rankings in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available. The rankings offer families an array of detailed information about each hospital's performance. Learn more about this year’s rankings here.

The U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals rankings rely on clinical data and on an annual survey of pediatric specialists. The methodology factors in patient outcomes, such as mortality and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices.

This year's rankings will be published in the U.S. News & World Report's “Best Hospitals 2019” guidebook, set for release in late September.

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EDITORS: Multimedia content is available:

  • High-resolution video of Penn State Health Children’s Hospital is available here.
  • Patient testimonials:
    • Owen and Christi Zeager available here.
    • Lillian and Tom Isbell available here.

If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email Penn State Health Marketing & Communications.