06/11/13  Portland, Ore.

OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital has been ranked one of the best children’s hospitals in the United States in eight of 10 pediatric specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2013-14 Best Children’s Hospitals.

This year, OHSU Doernbecher improved its standing in seven of its eight ranked specialties.

OHSU Doernbecher has consistently ranked among the best since it first applied for rankings consideration in 2010-11. It is the only medical center in Oregon whose pediatric specialties met U.S. News & World Report’s criteria for quality of care, best practices and outcomes.

For 2013-14, U.S. News ranks OHSU Doernbecher:

• 19^th in Cancer: up from 28^th in 2012-13.
• 42^nd in Cardiology & Heart Surgery: up from 50^th in 2012-13.
• 30^th in Diabetes & Endocrinology: up from 44^th in 2012-13.
• 28^th in Nephrology: not ranked in 2012-13; ranked 49^th in 2011-12.
• 40^th in Neurology & Neurosurgery: up from 46^th in 2012-13.
• 49^th in Orthopedics: down from 45^th in 2012-13.
• 50^th in Pulmonology: not ranked in 2012-13; ranked 45^th in 2011-12.
• 26^th in Urology: up from 32^nd in 2011-12; not ranked in 2012-13.

To be considered for the pediatric rankings, children’s hospitals were required to provide extensive medical data about their services, capabilities and outcomes. Seventy-five percent of each hospital’s score was based on an analysis of clinical and operational data, including:

• Level and quality of care (staffing, technology, special services)
• Health care delivery (infection-control programs, adherence to best practices)
• Clinical outcomes (patient survival, infection rates, complications)

Reputation comprises 25 percent of a hospital's score.

To gather data, U.S. News used two surveys: a clinical questionnaire sent to 179 pediatric hospitals and a reputational survey of 150 pediatric specialists and subspecialists in each specialty. The 1,500 physicians surveyed were asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty, regardless of location and expense.

“The national rankings are a testament to the exceptional dedication and world-class expertise our health care team brings to children at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital each and every day,” said Stacy Nicholson, M.D., M.P.H., physician-in-chief, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital; and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, OHSU School of Medicine. “We are committed to providing the very best care and support to the children of Oregon and Southwest Washington in a family-centered environment.”