Toronto’s SickKids hospital has been ranked the world’s best children’s hospital for a second consecutive year, according to one study. The ranking, announced by Newsweek Tuesday, included a list of 250 pediatric hospitals around the world. SickKids ranked ahead of other top hospitals, including Boston Children’s Hospital, which placed No. 2; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, No. 3; Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù di Roma in Rome, Italy, No. 4; and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, No. 5. “Being No. 1 is an extraordinary honour. Achieving No. 1 back-to-back reflects the excellence, dedication and shared purpose that define SickKids every day,” said Dr. Ronald Cohn, president and CEO of SickKids. “This recognition belongs to the staff, trainees, volunteers, donors and community who stand behind our mission and make our work for children and families possible.” The ranking, published in partnership with statistics and data company Statista, were based on three specific “data pillars”: reputation, accreditation and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). PROMs are “standardized, validated questionnaires completed by patients to assess their perception of their functional well-being and quality of life,” according to Newsweek. Several other Canadian pediatric hospitals were included on the list, including BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, which ranked ninth, and Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, which ranked No. 15. The study also reportedly received guidance from medical experts around the world on the design of the PROMs implementation survey. “When it comes to complex medical conditions, choosing the right hospital can make a critical difference—but a hospital’s overall reputation does not always tell the full story,” the study stated. “Expertise can vary significantly from one medical specialty to another, making it difficult for patients, referring physicians and health-care decision-makers to identify where the world’s leading specialized care is found.”
