Magazine Includes Baystate Children’s Hospital in Specialty Ranking

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Children’s Hospital has been ranked in pediatric diabetes and endocrinology in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013-14 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.

The Springfield children’s hospital ranked 34th nationally in care for children in the specialty. This is its first-ever U.S. News recognition.

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

“Baystate Children’s Hospital deserves high praise,” said Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow. “The ranking shows the dedication and expertise that Baystate 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.

“We’re elated to be included on this elite list of children’s hospitals,” said Dr. Lindsey Grossman, chair of Pediatrics at Baystate Children’s Hospital. “Being recognized for world-class diabetes and endocrine care is particularly gratifying given the comparatively high prevalence of these conditions in our community. Our kids here in Western New England deserve the best, and we’re very proud to be recognized as giving it to them.”

Added Dr. Holley Allen, chief of Baystate Pediatric Endocrinology, “children coping with diabetes and other endocrine disorders require a high level of specialized expertise. And we see time and again that having this level of expertise here in Western Mass. makes a tremendous difference in helping kids and families manage these health challenges. In addition to the health impact of the care itself, it also saves time in the car and expense — and gives the kids more time to be kids and enjoy time with family and friends.”

 Dr. Evan Benjamin, senior vice president of Healthcare Quality for Baystate Health, said the recognition “is another affirmation that we’re continuing our ascent as a national leader in quality of care across our health system. We’re very proud and very grateful for this honor, and I congratulate all the physicians, nurses, and other employees who played a part in it.”

Baystate Children’s Hospital provides a comprehensive range of pediatric primary care and inpatient and outpatient subspecialty services. Among Baystate Children’s Hospital’s Springfield-based services are the region’s only neonatal and pediatric intensive-care units, the Baystate Family Advocacy Center, and the recently opened Sadowsky Family Pediatric Emergency Department.

 “We want families across the region to know that we are here for them with outstanding pediatric care in general and specialty areas,” said Molly Gray, director of Baystate Children’s Hospital. “Those families are partners with us in helping their kids be as healthy and happy as they can be. This recognition is one for all of us to celebrate, as a hospital and as a community.”

The Baystate Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes program is composed of a team of providers, nurses, certified diabetes educators, nutritionists, a social worker, and other staff. More than 500 children and adolescents with diabetes receive intensive, personalized care from this multi-disciplinary team. With partial support from a grant from the Mass. Department of Public Health, the Baystate pediatric diabetes team has partnered with school nurses in Springfield and outlying cities and towns to improve diabetes care in schools.