Published: June 24, 2009 04:58 pm         

Riley among America’s Best Children’s Hospitals

Seven of Indy hospital’s programs make list in U.S. News Media

INDIANAPOLIS — Seven specialty programs at Riley Hospital for Children ranked among the top 30 children’s hospitals in the nation, including urology which ranked third, in U.S. News Media Group’s 2009 edition of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals, published online at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals and featured in the August issue of U.S. News & World Report, available on newsstands starting July 21.

The 2009 America’s Best Children’s Hospitals, the most extensive listing of its kind, ranks hospitals in cancer; diabetes and endocrine disorders; digestive disorders; heart and heart surgery; kidney disorders; neonatal care; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; respiratory disorders; and urology.

The Riley Hospital specialty programs recognized by U.S. News & World Report and their numerical rankings are:

• Urology – Third

• Diabetes & Endocrine Disorders – 12th

• Neonatal Care – 14th

• Respiratory Disorders – 14th

• Digestive Disorders – 18th

• Neurology & Neurosurgery – 27th

• Orthopedics – 29th

“As the only hospital in Indiana to be listed among the top hospitals in the nation, we are extremely proud of these specialty programs and pleased to be acknowledged for providing outstanding patient care and service to all Hoosier children and families,” said Dan Fink, president and CEO, Riley Hospital for Children. “Not only does this distinction recognize our achievements, but speaks well to the experience of our physicians, nurses and staff who are devoted to enhancing the lives and well-being of children.”

“These rankings reflect our commitment to the state of Indiana and beyond,” said Dan Evans, president and CEO, Clarian Health. “We will continue to recruit top physicians and researchers, lead the state in cutting edge research and cultivate statewide partnerships to ensure Riley Hospital and Clarian Health provide the highest quality care to our patients and their families.”

“While they might be a small percentage of all hospital patients, a large number of children every year need high-quality hospital care,” said Avery Comarow, Health Rankings Editor, U.S. News Media Group. “The objective of the Best Children’s Hospitals rankings is to help children with uniquely challenging medical needs, and for these special patients, it is essential they seek treatment at pediatric facilities with deep expertise. With this year’s rankings, we’re providing important information on the best of the best.”

The methodology behind this year’s rankings weighed a three-part blend of reputation, outcome, and care-related measures such as nursing care, advanced technology, credentialing, and other factors. The hospitals were judged based on a combination of opinions from pediatric specialists about the hospitals they would recommend for the sickest children and data gathered in a 65-page survey covering important medical information ranging from surgical death rates to whether pediatric anesthesiologists and other sub specialists are on the staff. A detailed description of the methodology can be found at www.usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

Ranking-eligible facilities were largely drawn from two membership categories of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions: freestanding children’s hospitals, or “hospitals within a hospital” (large, multidisciplinary pediatric departments within a medical center). Several non-NACHRI members were added because of known expertise or at the recommendation of experts. Of the 160 children’s hospitals invited to complete the 65-page survey, 98 responded.