MUSC Children's Hospital Only One in SC in New Rankings

Contact: Tony Ciuffo
843-792-2626
ciuffo@musc.edu

June 21, 2016

CHARLESTON, SC – MUSC Children’s Hospital is the only such institution in South Carolina to be ranked among US News & World Report’s 2016-17 edition of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.”

The latest rankings are published online at Health US NEWS Pediatric Rankings.

The leading specialties for MUSC Children’s Hospital are: No. 20 for cardiology and heart surgery; No. 22 for nephrology; No. 29 for urology; No. 37 for cancer; No. 39 for gastroenterology and GI surgery; and No. 47 for diabetes and endocrinology.

Newcomers to the list this year, although known throughout the state for their unparalleled, specialized care, pediatric cancer, gastroenterology and GI surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, and urology were recognized for their quality of care, strong clinical outcomes and survival rates. Nephrology returned to the list this year after some strong recruitments were made to the program, enhancing the breadth and depth of the quality of care already provided.

"I am proud of our Children’s Hospital care team as this is validation of the great care they deliver every day,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., MUSC Health CEO and Vice President for Health Affairs, University. “This is also evidence of the need to build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital which will be a resource of high quality children’s care for South Carolina and the nation."

The 10th annual rankings highlight the top 50 US pediatric hospitals in each of 10 specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology. In the 2016-17 rankings, 78 of the 183 hospitals surveyed were ranked in at least one of the 10 specialties.

The current methodology combines clinical and operational data, results from a reputational survey of board-certified pediatric specialists, and supplemental information from resources such as the National Cancer Institute. RTI International collects and analyzes the data for the rankings. The methodology reflects the level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care, such as staffing, technology and special services; delivery of healthcare, such as reputation among pediatric specialists, programs that prevent infections and adherence to best practices; and clinical outcomes, such as patient survival, infection rates, and complications. Survival rates, adequacy of nurse staffing and procedure volume are among the many kinds of information about each ranked hospital that can be viewed on Health US NEWS Pediatric Rankings.

About MUSC Children’s Health

MUSC Children’s Health is South Carolina’s most comprehensive system of preventive and clinical care devoted exclusively to the well-being of children. The system delivers the most advanced, evidence-based pediatric health services to from fetal stage through the teen years. Six pediatric specialties – cardiology and heart surgery, cancer, nephrology, urology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, and diabetes and endocrinology – are ranked in the top 50 in the country. The nationally recognized flagship MUSC Children’s Hospital is located on the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) campus in downtown Charleston. MUSC Children’s Health is expanding access to specialized pediatric care through a growing network of outreach locations across South Carolina and through the state’s largest telehealth network.

To learn more about MUSC Children’s Health, visit MUSC Kids. Like us on Facebook MUSCkids or follow us @MUSCkids.