HOUSTON, July 7, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Texas Children's Hospital has been named among the top five pediatric hospitals in the nation, according to new rankings announced by U.S. News & World Report today in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey.
According to the report, Texas Children's ranks fifth among the more than 250 hospitals in the United States and as the best pediatric hospital in the Southwest.
"We are excited to be recognized as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the nation," said Texas Children's Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Mark A. Wallace. "This ranking is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of more than 6,000 employees and 1,437 primary-care pediatricians and pediatric sub-specialists.
"Our mission is to provide the finest possible pediatric patient care, education and research, so we take on the most challenging cases from across the country and around the world," Wallace continued. "Many of our discoveries become the standard for pediatric care."
Texas Children's also contributes significant amounts to education and community outreach through programs such as Project Medical Home, SuperKids Mobile Clinic, Immunization Registry and the Center for Childhood Injury Prevention.
The hospital recently announced plans for the creation of a neurological research institute unlike any other in the country, as well as a world-class obstetrics program focusing on high-risk pregnancies.
Texas Children's Hospital, with its medical school partner, Baylor College of Medicine, is renowned for expertise and breakthrough developments in the treatment of cancer, premature infants, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, infectious diseases, pediatric neurologic diseases, diabetes, asthma, HIV/AIDS and attention-related disorders.
"Our goal is to continue to build a nationally and internationally recognized preeminent children's hospital. It is clear that physicians around the country recognize us for our advances in research and patient care," said Texas Children's Hospital Physician-in-Chief Ralph D. Feigin, M.D. "With more than $90 million in annual sponsored research funding, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine together participate in some 400 research projects, many of them firsts."
The Texas Children's/Baylor College of Medicine research partnership ranks #1 in NIH funding for Pediatrics and Genetics research. Examples of leading discoveries include:
-- The development of the Mullins sheath for left heart
catheterization, which is now the standard equipment and
methodologies used in adult and pediatric care.
-- Texas Children's Cancer Center and Hematology Service has more
than 260 clinical trials underway to determine the safety and
effectiveness of drug treatments in children, which means nearly
80 percent of patients participate in the newest and most advanced
therapies.
-- A Texas Children's researcher identified methyl-CpG binding
protein 2, as the causative gene in Rett syndrome -- an
X-chromosome-linked neurological disorder.
About U.S. News:
To determine the best hospitals for pediatrics, U.S. News asked board-certified pediatricians randomly selected from the American Medical Association database to name five hospitals they consider best in their specialty for difficult cases, regardless of cost or location. The 26 hospitals ranked in pediatrics were cited by at least 3 percent of physicians who responded to U.S. News surveys in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In this year's survey, Texas Children's earned a reputational score of 15.6. U.S. News & World Report established the survey as a starting point to help consumers find quality care.