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

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U.S. News & World Report has named Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center the top pediatric cancer program in New England and #2 in the nation in its 2020-21 Best Children's Hospitals report. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's has been recognized as one of the top three pediatric cancer centers in the country each year since the ranking's inception in 2007, including more #1 rankings than any other program.

Boston Children’s Hospital remains the #1 pediatric hospital in the nation for the seventh year in a row in U.S. News’ top hospital listings.

“We are proud that our program has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top three pediatric cancer programs in the country and the top programs in New England for the past 13 years,” said Scott A. Armstrong, MD, PhD, President of Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s. “This success is a result of the outstanding doctors, nurses and staff who work tirelessly to provide unsurpassed clinical care while also performing world-class research that is changing how we treat children with cancer.” The complete rankings are available here.

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.

Vijay Sankaran, MD, PhD, Interim Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital, said: “Our program is unique, since it brings together the resources of an outstanding children’s hospital with an amazing cancer center to provide world-class care to children affected by cancer and blood disorders. At the same time, we also are able to conduct cutting-edge research. The work we do is a testament to the outstanding teams we have in our program.”

The 14th annual rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the U.S. in 10 pediatric specialties, including cancer. 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.

Overall, U.S. News ranked Boston Children’s first in Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Pulmonology, and Urology; second in Cancer, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, and Orthopedics; fourth in Cardiology & Heart Surgery; and sixth in Neonatology.

“Even in the midst of a pandemic, children have healthcare needs ranging from routine vaccinations to life-saving surgery and chemotherapy,” said Ben Harder, Managing Editor and Chief of Health Analysis at U.S. News. “The Best Children's Hospitals rankings are designed to help parents find quality medical care for a sick child and inform families’ conversations with pediatricians.”

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 in consultation with their doctors and other medical professionals. The rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals.

The U.S. News Best Children’s Hospitals rankings rely on clinical data and on 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 and use #BestHospitals on Facebook and Twitter.


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