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Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s named best hospital for pediatric cancer
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Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center has retained its distinction as the nation’s No. 1 pediatric cancer program.
The institution tops U.S. News & World Report’s list of best children’s hospital for cancer for 2016-2017. This is the third straight year the center has topped the list, and the institution has ranked either first or second for 6 consecutive years.
David A. Williams
“Once again, we are honored by U.S. News’ recognition of the exceptional multidisciplinary care we offer every child with cancer who walks through our doors,” David A. Williams, MD, president of Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s, said in a press release. “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. It is also testament to our commitment to research into new treatments and delivery of these treatments to our young patients.”
The 10th annual Best Children’s Hospitals rankings are intended to help families of children with life-threatening or rare conditions obtain the best possible medical care.
The rankings highlight the top 50 centers in 10 pediatric specialties, including cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, urology, neonatology and pulmonology.
Other centers named to the top five for cancer care this year are Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Boston Children’s Hospital also earned the top spot on U.S. News & World Report’s 2016-17 Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll, a distinction given to pediatric centers that perform at the highest levels in three or more specialties. Boston Children’s finished first in eight of the 10 evaluated specialties.
Lisa Diller
“Not only are our oncologists experts in pediatric cancers, but our access to top pediatric specialists in disciplines from cardiology to endocrinology also makes us uniquely poised to treat side effects of treatment that affect the developing bodies of children with cancer,” Lisa Diller, MD, chief medical officer of Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s, said in the release. “Our multidisciplinary teams include pediatric radiologists and pediatric pathologists who have the expertise to correctly diagnose a patient’s cancer so we can develop the appropriate treatment plan. All of this is delivered in a child-friendly environment with psychosocial support for our young patients and families during a difficult time in their lives.”
The rankings are based on clinical survey data from 183 pediatric centers, in addition to the opinions of nearly 11,000 surveyed pediatric specialists and subspecialists, according to a press release issued by U.S. News & World Report.
Several other factors — including clinical outcomes, compliance with best practices, and efficiency and coordination of care delivery — also are taken into account.
“Families with sick children face so many uphill battles,” Avery Comarow, U.S. News health rankings editor, said in a press release. “By recognizing hospitals that offer the best pediatric care, we hope we can offer families important help when they are going through an exceptionally overwhelming time.”