How to Choose a Children's Hospital
When your child needs hospital care, choosing the right facility is a critical decision. Children's hospitals are specifically designed to meet the unique medical, emotional, and developmental needs of pediatric patients.
Why Children's Hospitals Are Different
- Specialized staff: Doctors, nurses, and therapists trained specifically in pediatric care
- Size-appropriate equipment: Medical devices designed and calibrated for children's bodies
- Child-friendly environment: Facilities designed to reduce fear and support emotional well-being
- Family-centered care: Policies and spaces that include families in the care process
- Developmental focus: Care plans that account for growth and development stages
Types of Pediatric Hospital Care
- Freestanding children's hospitals: Independent hospitals dedicated entirely to pediatric care
- Children's hospitals within larger hospitals: Pediatric units or "hospitals within hospitals" at adult facilities
- Community hospitals with pediatric services: General hospitals with pediatric departments
- Specialty children's hospitals: Facilities focused on specific conditions like cancer, rehabilitation, or heart disease
Key Factors to Consider
Medical Capabilities
- Does the hospital have pediatric subspecialists for your child's condition?
- Is there a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)?
- What level NICU is available for newborns?
- Does the hospital have pediatric surgical capabilities?
- Are emergency physicians pediatric-trained?
Experience and Volume
- How many children with your child's condition does the hospital treat?
- What are the outcomes for the specific procedure your child needs?
- Is the hospital a member of the Children's Hospital Association?
Support Services
- Child Life specialists to help children cope with hospitalization
- Family support services (family lounges, sleeping accommodations, social work)
- School programs for extended stays
- Psychological and behavioral health support
- Transition programs for adolescents moving to adult care
Questions to Ask
- Are all nurses and physicians pediatric-trained?
- What are visiting hours and family accommodation policies?
- Can parents stay overnight with their child?
- What pain management approaches are used for children?
- How does the hospital communicate with families about care plans?
Research hospital quality at Medicare Care Compare.
Data sourced from CMS and the Children's Hospital Association. Visit Medicare Care Compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Consult with your pediatrician for medical advice.
Important
This article explains how hospital quality data works and is for general information only. It is not medical advice and must not be used to decide whether to seek, delay or refuse care — that is a decision for you and a clinician who knows your situation.
CMS quality measures describe care delivered during earlier reporting periods and are refreshed roughly quarterly. A hospital's staffing, services and performance can change well before the published numbers do.
hospiguide.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to CMS, Medicare, or any U.S. government agency, and publishes no ratings of its own.
Before acting on anything here, verify current details at Medicare.gov Care Compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048.
HospiGuide.org Editorial Team
Our editorial team explains U.S. hospital quality data using official CMS datasets and government publications. We are not medical professionals, we do not recommend hospitals, and we accept no payment for coverage. Every factual claim is checked against a CMS or federal source. Read our editorial policy.
Related reading
Rural Hospital Options: What to Know About Limited Choices
For millions of Americans living in rural areas, healthcare access is limited by distance, fewer facilities, and shrinking
What to Do If the Nearest Hospital Has Low Ratings
Discovering that your nearest hospital has low quality ratings can be concerning. Here's how to evaluate the situation
Choosing a Hospital for Mental Health Treatment
Selecting the right hospital for mental health treatment is a crucial step toward recovery. Whether you or a loved one needs