Primary Children’s Hospital recently received national recognition in eight pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report in the 2014-15 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. The specialties included:

• Neurology and Neurosurgery (12th)
• Orthopedics (12th)
• Cancer (19th)
• Cardiology and Heart Surgery (21st)
• Diabetes & Endocrinology (45th)
• Gastroenterology and GI surgery (27th)
• Nephrology (47th)
• Urology (26th)

The Best Children’s Hospitals rankings highlight U.S. News and World Report’s top 50 U.S. pediatric facilities in Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI surgery, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology, and Urology. Eighty-nine hospitals ranked in at least one specialty, based on a combination of clinical data and reputation with pediatric specialists.

“We are humbled to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report again this year,” said Katy Welkie, CEO of Primary Children’s. “Every day our physicians, nurses, and other staff members work together to provide the best care possible for many children and their families. These rankings are a reflection of the countless hours of hard work and a continual dedication of our staff to live the philosophy ‘The Child First and Always®.’”

Five-sixths of the hospital’s scores are determined by patient outcomes and the care-related resources each hospital makes available. The remaining one-sixth are based on the hospital’s reputation among physicians.

Ed Clark, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Primary Children’s said, “Our hard work over the past year has helped improve the rankings for five specialties, and contributed to three more specialties being recognized. The rankings acknowledge the extraordinary care provided by our physicians and staff, and reflects a collaborative effort between Primary Children’s and the University of Utah School of Medicine.”

Eight specialties is the most Primary Children’s has ever been ranked in. And, the five specialties which were recognized nationally last year each improved in rankings this year.

• Cardiology and Heart Surgery – up 1 spot
• Gastroenterology and GI surgery – up 10 spots
• Neurology and Neurosurgery – up 4 spots
• Orthopedics – up 13 spots
• Urology – up 22 spots

U.S. News introduced the Best Children’s Hospitals rankings in 2007 to help families of sick children find the best medical care available. The rankings offer families an exclusive look at quality-related information at the individual hospital level. To learn more about our national rankings, visit primarychildrens.org/bestforkids.