U.S.News 2008 'Best Hospitals' Issue Again Ranks Packard Children's as One of Nation's...

U.S.News 2008 'Best Hospitals' Issue Again Ranks Packard Children's as One of
Nation's Best
Neonatalogy, heart & heart surgery ranked in nation's Top 5; Cancer program in
Top 10

STANFORD, Calif., May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Once again, Lucile Packard
Children's Hospital at Stanford has been ranked one of the nation's best.
In its annual America's Best Children's Hospitals issue hitting newsstands
June 2, the magazine places Lucile Packard Children's Hospital # 12 overall
among children's hospitals nationwide, and tops in the Bay Area. Additionally,
the hospital's neonatology, heart and heart surgery specialties each ranked #
5 in the U.S., with cancer ranking # 10. Programs in digestive disorders,
respiratory disorders, neurology and neurosurgery were also noted for
excellence with Top 20 rankings.
Christopher Dawes, president and chief executive officer at Packard
Children's, was proud of this recognition. "Making the U.S.News list is always
an honor. It reflects what our faculty and staff have built and continue to
build -- a nationally and internationally pre-eminent children's hospital. The
children's hospitals of America provide superb care, and we're thrilled to be
one of the best of the best."
The specialty rankings of this year's America's Best Children's Hospitals
were based on a new methodology that weighed a three-part blend of reputation,
outcome, and care-related measures such as nursing, advanced technology,
credentialing and other factors. A detailed description of the methodology can
be found online at http://www.usnews.com/pediatrics beginning May 30.
The U.S.News honor adds to a growing list of recent highlights at the
hospital, including the 2008 launch of a new Web site that allows visitors to
access a variety of data about the hospital's performance. This move toward
greater data transparency is another milestone in the hospital's ongoing
campaign to improve and communicate patient safety and quality of care.
The success of Packard Children's has also led to a major expansion of
services. Recently, the hospital opened the first phase of its new Bass Center
for Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases and a new South Bay Specialty Center
in Los Gatos. Coming up later in 2008 will be the opening of a new 16,000 sq.
ft. surgical center with seven operating suites and a new 20-bed
cardiovascular intensive care unit.
"We're growing and building and taking on some of the most challenging
cases from around the corner and around the world," said Dawes. "The U.S.News
ranking reflects this, and it's wonderful to be recognized in this way."
Contact:
Robert Dicks
650-497-8364
rdicks@lpch.org

SOURCE Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford

Robert Dicks of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford,
+1-650-497-8364, rdicks@lpch.org