In the February 2007 issue of Child, the magazine shows the results of a data-driven survey they conduct every other year to find what they call the 10 best children's hospitals.
We're pretty lucky in this region, because we're within driving distance of four of their top 10. Philadelphia, ranked No. 1; Cincinnati, ranked 5; Columbus, Ohio, ranked 6; and Cleveland, ranked 8. Here's the full list:
1. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2. Children's Hospital of Boston
3. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
4. Texas Children's Hospital
5. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
6. Columbus Children's Hospital
7. St. Louis Children's Hospital
8. Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland
9. Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
10. The Children's Hospital in Denver
We all hope never to have to worry about taking our child to the hospital, but as a parent, it's pretty much inevitable. There are prolonged bouts of vomiting that make you worry about dehydration; there are cuts that need stitches; there are sprains or broken bones. And that's just all average, run-of-the-mill injuries. If you're lucky, you escape them, but if you end up with one of them, it's nothing too unusual.
But sometimes there's a little more -- severe asthma, cancer, diabetes, sickle-cell anemia and the need for cardiac care. At these times, don't you want the best for your child? I think I'd find myself deep in debt, because I'd want to go somewhere that specializes in helping kids and who specializes in helping kids with the specific problem that my child would have.
Let's all hope and pray that we never have to worry about any of this. But, let's also know that some of the best are, really, quite close.
Child is working to add more details about its survey, and a message board for families to talk about where to find care for a sick child, at www.child.com/web_links. It's not posted there yet, but should be soon.