Dana-Farber/Boston Children's again named a top national pediatric cancer program

Boston Children's Hospital retains rank as country's best pediatric hospital in new U.S. News rankings

June 27, 2017

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center the nation's #2 pediatric cancer program in its new 2017-18 Best Children's Hospitals report. This marks the ninth year since 2008 that Dana-Farber/Boston Children's has been ranked one of the top two pediatric cancer centers in the country, a record that surpasses other United States centers. Boston Children's Hospital remained the best pediatric hospital.

"Once again, we are honored by U.S. News' consistent recognition of the exceptional, multidisciplinary care we offer our young cancer patients and our ongoing commitment to research into new therapeutic avenues," said David A. Williams, MD, president of Dana-Farber/Boston Children's and chief scientific officer of Boston Children's Hospital. "This U.S. News ranking is testament to the unique strength that comes from marrying a world-class cancer center with a world-class children's hospital, leading to survival rates that are better than the national average, despite the fact that we attract some of the most complex cases."

Dana-Farber/ Boston Children's brings together two internationally known research and teaching institutions that have provided comprehensive care for pediatric oncology and hematology patients since 1947. The Harvard Medical School affiliates share a clinical staff that delivers inpatient care and surgery at Boston Children's and most outpatient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Overall, U.S. News ranked Boston Children's #1 or #2 in nine of the ten specialty areas it rates, several of which are involved in the treatment of pediatric cancer or the side effects of therapy. Among them, are neurology/neurosurgery, whose patients include children with brain tumors, and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery, whose patients include children with cancerous bone tumors. Boston Children's also garnered #1 or #2 rankings in cardiology/heart surgery, endocrinology, gastroenterology/GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, and urology. It ranked #3 in pulmonology.

"In addition to the excellence of our pediatric oncology clinicians, our access to top pediatric specialists in disciplines from neurology to cardiology to endocrinology makes us uniquely poised to treat both cancer and the side effects of treatments that affect children's developing bodies," said Lisa Diller, MD, chief medical officer of Dana-Farber/Boston Children's. "Our pediatric pathologists possess the expertise needed to accurately diagnose a patient's cancer and uncover its genetic abnormalities so we can develop the appropriate treatment plan. We deliver this care in a child-friendly environment, complete with psychosocial support to help families through a stressful time in their lives."

U.S. News introduced the Best Children's Hospitals rankings in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available. The rankings are the only comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric centers.

"The pediatric centers on this year's Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll show outstanding dedication to top-quality care for patients and expertise spanning multiple specialties" said U.S. News Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. "U.S. News wants to highlight these Honor Roll hospitals that deliver state-of-the-art medical care to children with complex illnesses across a wide range of conditions."

The 11th annual rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the U.S. in 10 pediatric specialties, including cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology. Hospitals received points for being ranked in a specialty, and higher-ranking hospitals receive more points. The Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll recognizes the 10 hospitals that received the most points overall.

The U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals rankings rely on clinical data and on an annual survey of pediatric specialists. The rankings methodology considers clinical outcomes, such as mortality and infection rates, efficiency and coordination of care delivery and compliance with "best practices."

Survival rates after surgery, adequacy of nurse staffing, procedure and patient volume, availability of programs for particular illnesses and conditions and much more can be viewed on health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/pediatric-rankings.

This year's rankings will be published in the U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals 2018" guidebook, which will be available on newsstands September 12.

For more information, visit Best Children's Hospitals and use #BestHospitals on Facebook and Twitter.