MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has ranked WVU Medicine Children’s 37th in Pediatric Urology in the new 2020-21 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings published online today.
“Our goal with WVU Medicine Children’s, like all of our signature programs, is to build a program that people from all over the state, region, and country seek out for its expertise, and our Pediatric Urology Program is proof that those efforts are working,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the West Virginia University Health System, said. “We are honored to again be ranked among the nation’s top programs and congratulate the hardworking team that made it possible.”
This year’s ranking marks the third consecutive national ranking for Pediatric Urology at WVU Medicine Children’s. The Adult Urology Program at WVU Medicine has been nationally ranked since 2017-18.
“It is my honor to lead a Department that not only ensures that West Virginians do not have to leave the state to receive the urologic care they need, but is also turned to by adults, families, and referring physicians from outside the state to solve complex urologic problems,” Stanley Zaslau, M.D., chair of the WVU Department of Urology, said. “We are proud to be nationally recognized for our work and look forward to providing top-notch care to those who need us long into the future.”
WVU Medicine Children’s has the only comprehensive pediatric urology service with fellowship-trained physicians in the state. The pediatric urologists at WVU Medicine Children’s have special expertise in the management of all congenital anomalies of the genitourinary system, kidney stones, neurogenic bladder, and dysfunctional voiding. It is also the state’s only pediatric urology practice offering robotic surgery.
“Divisions like ours are only successful when all of its members constantly strive to improve the quality of care they provide to their patients,” Osama Al-Omar, M.D., M.B.A., chief of Pediatric Urology at WVU Medicine Children’s, said. “This national recognition would not be possible without the dedication of the physicians, nurses, and staff members who deliver world-class care to all of our patients on a daily basis.”
Next year, WVU Medicine Children’s will move into a 150-bed, nine-story hospital next to WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital. The state-of-the-art facility will provide expanded, dedicated pediatric care areas and will allow for the growth of pediatric specialty and subspecialty programs.
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. The rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals.
The 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.
“Even in the midst of a pandemic, children have healthcare needs ranging from routine vaccinations to life-saving surgery and chemotherapy,” Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News, said. “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.”
For more information about Pediatric Urology, visit https://youtu.be/oC3aC0Qqtng. For more information on WVU Medicine Children’s, visit Childrens.WVUMedicine.org.
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 WVU Medicine Children’s
WVU Medicine Children’s – currently located on the sixth floor of J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, WVU Medicine’s flagship hospital – provides maternal, infant, and pediatric care for West Virginia and the surrounding region, giving care to high-risk mothers, premature infants, and children with life-threatening conditions through adolescence to adulthood. In 2021, WVU Medicine Children’s will move into a new hospital and ambulatory care center to be attached to Ruby Memorial. For more information, including ways to support “Grow Children’s,” the capital campaign for Children’s new home, visit Childrens.WVUMedicine.org.