U.S. News and World Report Best Children's Hospital

The Children’s Hospital is proud to be included in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals 2020-21 list, ranking in three specialties:

• Cancer
• Cardiology and heart surgery
• Neonatology
• Nephrology
• Pulmonology

Learn more about our U.S. News rankings

Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center

Penn State Children’s Hospital was designated a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) - the highest level awarded. The hospital is one of just eight in the nation - and the only one in Pennsylvania - to achieve this designation through the ACS Children’s Surgery Verification Program.

This three-year accreditation means that we met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure, as well as protocols for care, ensuring that the Children’s Hospital is able to handle the specific needs of young patients. This includes the presence of children’s surgical and medical specialists, pediatric anesthesiologists and pediatric emergency physicians, all of whom are prepared to handle the specific needs of children. Such hospitals also must provide surgical care across multiple specialties, including procedures for complex diseases and major congenital anomalies.

Learn more about our Level 1 Surgery Center designation

Highest level of trauma care

Since 1993, the Children’s Hospital has been accredited by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation as the only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in south central Pennsylvania. Level I trauma centers have earned the highest designation available for their capabilities and expertise in treating a high volume of acute injuries.

Pediatric specialists are available 24/7 to deliver immediate treatment to severely injured children. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is also the only Level I Trauma Center for both adult and pediatric patients in this region, which means that if a family is involved in an accident or other traumatic injury, both children and adults can be treated at the same facility.

Learn more about our Pediatric Trauma Center

Best Doctors in America

Founded in 1989 by doctors affiliated with Harvard University School of Medicine, Best Doctors is a leader in helping people get the best medical care. The following list indicates Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center physicians named as Best Doctors.

View the list of Penn State Health physicians recognized by Best Doctors in America

Castle Connolly Top Doctors

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. (CCML) is a nationally-recognized company dedicated to helping consumers find the best healthcare available. To that end, CCML publishes America 's Top Doctors , an annual guide to the best doctors in the nation.

View the list of Penn State Health physicians recognized by America's Top Doctors

Society of Thoracic Surgeons Three-Star Rating

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) awarded Penn State Children’s Heart Group a three-star rating for congenital heart surgery - the highest designation available. The international nonprofit organization represents cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers and other health care professionals.

The latest STS report is based on national data over a four-year period, from July 2013 to June 2017, and includes most of the congenital heart surgery programs in the U.S. The Children’s Hospital is one of 11 in the nation to receive a three-star rating.