'U.S. News & World Report' Once Again Names Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Among Top 10 Children’s Hospitals in the Nation

2021–2022 Best Children’s Hospitals annual survey ranks the top pediatric facilities in the country to help families with complex and rare conditions find the best medical care for their children

For release: June 15, 2021

STANFORD, Calif. — Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has once again been named among the top 10 children’s hospitals in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2021–2022 Best Children’s Hospitals survey, published today.

U.S. News & World Report’s 2021–2022 Best Children’s Hospitals survey ranks Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford:

  • One of the top 10 children’s hospitals in the nation—Honor Roll for second consecutive year
  • No. 1 in Northern California
  • No. 2 in Pacific region and in  California
  • Top 10 nationwide in five specialties
  • Neonatology and Nephrology rated in top five programs nationwide
  • Best on the West Coast: Neurology and Neurosurgery, Pulmonology

The rankings name Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford as the top children’s hospital in Northern California and include it on the Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll, a designation awarded to pediatric centers that deliver exceptionally high-quality care across multiple specialties. In addition, the 2021–2022 survey introduced state and regional rankings for the first time; Packard Children’s Hospital ranked second among all Pacific region and California children’s hospitals.

This is the 17th consecutive year that Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report surveys. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2021, the hospital is the youngest institution among the top hospitals, the rest of which have been in operation for 70 to 165 years.

“As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of our hospital this month, achieving the Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll distinction yet again is indicative of the excellence in specialty care that has come to define Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in its relatively short tenure,” said Paul King, president and chief executive officer of Stanford Children’s Health. “We are extraordinarily proud of this achievement as a direct result of our providers’ unparalleled innovation and commitment to delivering the highest-quality care for children and expectant mothers.”

The annual Best Children’s Hospitals survey rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the United States in 10 pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and lung surgery, and urology.

One of only two children’s hospitals in California that achieved Honor Roll status, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is at the center of Stanford Children’s Health, the Bay Area’s largest health care enterprise dedicated exclusively to children and expectant mothers. For the sixth consecutive year, the hospital achieved rankings in all 10 specialties. This year’s survey ranked five of the hospital’s specialties in the top 10, including two in the top five nationwide. These included neonatology (No. 3), nephrology (No. 4), pulmonology and lung surgery (No. 6), neurology and neurosurgery (No. 8), and diabetes and endocrinology (No. 9).

“In a year marked by the challenges of COVID-19 and social unrest, we at Stanford Medicine are honored to achieve this recognition by U.S. News & World Report,” said Lloyd Minor, MD, dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine. “This accolade is a testament to the health care workers, staff, and providers at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Their dedication, expertise and compassion enabled us to continue providing preeminent care to patients in the Bay Area and beyond.”

The U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals and help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available in consultation with their doctors and other medical professionals. Based on clinical data and an annual survey of pediatric specialists, the rankings methodology factors in patient outcomes, such as mortality and infection rates, as well as available clinical resources and compliance with best practices.

For more information, visit Best Children’s Hospitals.

Media Contact

Elizabeth Valente
EValente@StanfordChildrens.org
(650) 269-5401

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

About Stanford Medicine Children's Health

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford at its center, is the Bay Area’s largest health care system exclusively dedicated to children and expectant mothers. Our network of care includes more than 65 locations across Northern California and more than 85 locations in the U.S. Western region. Along with Stanford Health Care and the Stanford School of Medicine, we are part of Stanford Medicine, an ecosystem harnessing the potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education, and clinical care to improve health outcomes around the world. We are a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the community through meaningful outreach programs and services and providing necessary medical care to families, regardless of their ability to pay. Discover more at stanfordchildrens.org.