WVU Medicine Children’s Pediatric Urology climbs 12 spots in national U.S. News & World Report rankings
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Pediatric Urology at WVU Medicine Children’s has again been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, this year coming in at 30th in the nation – a dozen spots up from last year’s ranking, which marked WVU Medicine Children’s first-ever appearance on the list.
“Rankings like this one reinforce our position as a national leader in the delivery of high quality specialty care,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the West Virginia University Health System, said. “We are grateful to and proud of everyone involved in the Pediatric Urology Program for all of the work that has gone into achieving this impressive and hard-earned recognition.”
The 13th annual Best Children’s Hospitals rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the U.S. in 10 pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, pulmonology and lung surgery, and urology.
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.
“We are excited and honored to be ranked again,” Osama Al-Omar, M.D., M.B.A., chief of Pediatric Urology at WVU Medicine Children’s, said. “This great achievement would not be possible without the passion and dedication of our team of experts, including our physicians, nurses, and staff members, who go above and beyond to provide the very best care for our pediatric patients.”
This is the third consecutive year that the WVU Department of Urology has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Adult Urology was ranked 26th in 2017-18 and 22nd last year. Pediatric Urology was ranked 42nd last year.
“All of these rankings represent the hard work and dedication of our entire Urology team. We are continually increasing the volume of patients seen and the services offered to our patients,” Stanley Zaslau, M.D., chair of the WVU Department of Urology, said. “Our goal is for all Urology patients – adults and children – to be cared for at WVU Medicine without ever leaving the state.”
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.
“The Best Children’s Hospitals rankings were designed to help provide families seeking the best medical care for their sick child with access to the most comprehensive data available,” Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News, said. “The rankings, coupled with guidance from pediatricians, help families make better-informed decisions about where to find high-quality, compassionate care for their children when they need it most.”
This year’s rankings will be published in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals 2020” guidebook (ISBN 9781931469937), available in stores mid-September.
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 early 2021, WVU Medicine Children’s will move into a new tower and ambulatory care center to be attached to Ruby Memorial. For more information, including ways to support the $60-million capital campaign for Children’s new home, visit wvumedicine.org/childrens.
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 Civic, 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.