According to U.S. News & World Report, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is now the second best pediatric hospital in America.  U.S. News and World Report released the 13th annual Best Children’s Hospital rankings in June. 

The rankings factored objective measures such as patient outcomes, mortality, infection rates and available resources. U.S. News awards ten hospitals each year that “deliver exceptionally high-quality care across multiple specialities.”

CHOP ranked second while Boston Children’s Hospital landed No.1, with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Texas Children’s Hospital tied for third. CHOP also earned the title spot in both Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology as well as Pediatric Gastroenterology and GI Surgery with perfect scores. 

Boston Children’s Hospital has now earned the No. 1 spot for six years in a row, additionally ranking best in the country for pediatric cancer, nephrology, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and urology. 

“While health care is rapidly changing, the objective of U.S. News’ Best Children’s Hospitals remains the same: provide families with a comprehensive and trusted starting point as they, in consultation with their doctors and other medical professionals, search for the pediatric care they need,” Ben Harder, Chief of Health Analysis and Managing Editor at U.S. News said. “Our rankings, now in their 13th year, have always put parents and young patients at the front and center of our mission.”

In additional to the exceptional care and expertise at CHOP, the hospital established the first pediatric hospital-based food bank and education center in West Philadelphia on January 23, 2019. CHOP’s Healthy Weight Food Pharmacy provides the community with healthy food and nutritional education. 

M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing offers many clinical opportunities for undergraduate nursing students, one of which being CHOP. Caroline  Critelli ’19 was a Villanova student who first had the opportunity to work with CHOP through clinicals and will be working there in the coming weeks. 

“My first experience with CHOP was last August when I was placed there for my pediatric clinical,” Critelli said.  “Going in, I had no idea what to expect, only knowing it was one of the best children’s hospitals in the entire country and I was beyond excited. During this clinical experience over the next 6 weeks, I was given a ton of hands-on learning opportunities and was exposed to various cancer treatments and diagnosis. This was by far one of my most influential clinicals and ultimately what led me to pursue my first nursing job at CHOP.” 

“The atmosphere of the hospital is like no other. Not only is the staff comprised of the most helpful and kind individuals, but the children are the most positive and inspirational patients I have had to date. This has only gotten stronger through my interviews, shadowing, and nurse residency onboarding process. I am forever grateful to Villanova’s nursing program for giving us the opportunity to practice as students at such amazing hospitals and help me achieve such a great start to my nursing career.”