Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Recognized by U.S. News & World Report for Second Year

Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital has been ranked in five specialties in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 -14 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. This is the second consecutive year the hospital was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best children’s hospitals in the country.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital ranked among the best in nephrology, pulmonology, orthopedics, urology and cancer services. Each specialty improved in their ranking, compared to the 2012-13 results, with more than half of the specialties improving by double digits.

“We are humbled by this notable distinction,” said Robert Connors, MD, president, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “It is a reflection of the tremendous work, passion and dedication of our employees and physicians, and wouldn’t be possible without the support and trust of our community and the patients who inspire us.”

The rankings highlight the top 50 U.S. hospitals in each of these pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology & heart surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, gastroenterology & GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, and urology. Eighty-seven hospitals ranked in at least one of the 10 specialties.

“Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital deserves high praise,” said Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. “These rankings show the dedication and expertise that the hospital brings to the care of children who need those qualities the most. We think it is important to identify and call attention to pediatric centers like this one.”

U.S. News introduced the Best Children’s Hospitals rankings in 2007 to help families of sick children find the best medical care available. The rankings offer families an exclusive look at quality-related information at the individual hospital level.

Each hospital’s reputation among doctors was only a small part of what U.S. News factored into its rankings. Three-quarters of each hospital’s score was determined through an analysis of patient outcomes and data on the structural resources each hospital has for pediatric care. To gather data, U.S. News used two surveys: a clinical questionnaire sent to 179 pediatric hospitals and, for the reputational assessment, a survey of 150 pediatric specialists and subspecialists in each specialty. The 1,500 physicians were asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty, setting aside location and expense.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is a 212-bed regional referral center and teaching hospital. It offers advanced pediatric specialty care with more than 200 pediatric physicians who practice in more than 50 pediatric specialties and programs. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is Michigan’s largest neonatal center. More information is available at www.helendevoschildrens.org.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 130 ambulatory and service sites; 975 advanced practice providers and employed physicians including members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart physician groups; and Priority Health, a health plan. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 19,200 employees. The organization provided $204 million in community benefit during its 2012 fiscal year.