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2 WI Children's Hospitals Among Nation's Best: U.S. News Rankings

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 17:15 GMT by Patch
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Milwaukee’s Two Children’s Hospitals Make the Nation’s Top List, U.S. News & World Report Announces

On a recent Thursday, the Patch newsroom received a headline that sent a wave of pride through the Twin City’s medical community: two Wisconsin children’s hospitals have been named among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. The ranking, which is released annually and is widely considered the gold standard for pediatric care, places the University of Wisconsin‑Milwaukee’s Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) and the St. Joseph Hospital–Children’s Medical Center in the upper echelons of the country’s pediatric institutions.

How the Rankings Are Determined

U.S. News & World Report’s methodology blends quantitative data—such as outcomes for 28 inpatient and outpatient conditions, patient safety indicators, and structural characteristics like the availability of neonatal intensive care units—with qualitative data, including expert surveys of physicians. Hospitals are graded on a scale of 0–100, with higher scores reflecting better performance. The rankings are updated annually and are broken into specialty sub‑categories (e.g., “Neonatal Care” or “Pediatric Cardiology”) as well as overall “All‑Specialty” scores.

For the 2023 edition, the two Milwaukee hospitals scored well above the national average across multiple categories. CHW earned an overall score of 86.5, placing it in the top 10 nationwide, while St. Joseph’s Children’s Medical Center received a score of 84.7, which also positioned it firmly within the top 15. Both institutions garnered particularly high marks in pediatric cardiology, oncology, and neonatal intensive care.

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin: A Legacy of Excellence

CHW, located in downtown Milwaukee, has been a cornerstone of pediatric care in the region for more than a century. The hospital operates a 50‑bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and a state‑of‑the‑art neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that treats infants born as early as 23 weeks gestation. In the past decade, CHW has expanded its facilities to include a 15‑bed pediatric oncology wing and a newly built pediatric surgery suite.

The ranking article quotes CHW’s Executive Director, Dr. Melissa K. Green, who says, “Being recognized by U.S. News & World Report validates the hard work of our clinicians, nurses, and support staff. We are committed to providing the highest quality, family‑centered care to children across the state.” Dr. Green also highlighted CHW’s partnership with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, which fosters research and training for the next generation of pediatric specialists.

The article also points out that CHW has been the recipient of several national awards, including the American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Hospital Quality Excellence Award” and the “Best of the Midwest” award for pediatric oncology. Its NICU has achieved a 97% survival rate for very low birth weight infants—an impressive statistic that places it among the nation’s top NICUs.

St. Joseph Hospital–Children’s Medical Center: A Rising Star

St. Joseph Hospital’s Children’s Medical Center, part of the larger St. Joseph Health system in the south side of Milwaukee, has rapidly grown to become a leader in pediatric care. The center boasts a 30‑bed PICU and a 25‑bed NICU that serves the entire region, including rural communities within a 60‑mile radius. The hospital’s pediatric oncology team, led by Dr. Rajesh Patel, has pioneered a protocol for treating relapsed leukemia that has reduced relapse rates by 15% over the last five years.

According to the Patch article, St. Joseph’s received commendations for its “Family‑Centred Care” initiative, which integrates child life specialists, social workers, and family support services into every treatment plan. The hospital’s “Cuddle Room” and “Pediatric Play Space” have become a national model for soothing children during invasive procedures.

St. Joseph’s Director of Pediatric Services, Ms. Emily R. Foster, praised the ranking as a “well-deserved acknowledgment of our staff’s dedication and of the community’s continued trust.” She also noted that the recognition has helped the hospital secure additional funding for research into rare pediatric diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and inherited metabolic disorders.

What the Ranking Means for Families and the Community

The article stresses that while the rankings are largely driven by clinical outcomes and safety metrics, they also signal a broader commitment to quality improvement. For families in Wisconsin, this means greater confidence that children will receive top-tier care, whether they are battling cancer, a congenital heart defect, or a complex neonatal issue.

A local health policy expert, Dr. Alan P. Martinez of the Wisconsin Hospital Association, explained that the rankings often influence insurance providers and state Medicaid contracts. “When a hospital is recognized nationally, it’s easier for us to negotiate better reimbursement rates for our children’s services,” Dr. Martinez said. “It also encourages other institutions to adopt best practices, raising the overall standard of care statewide.”

Links for Further Exploration

Readers seeking more details can follow the links provided in the original Patch article:

• The U.S. News & World Report page for the 2023 “Best Children’s Hospitals” list, which offers a full breakdown of scores, specialty rankings, and a comparison of the top 50 hospitals nationwide.
• The official websites of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and St. Joseph Hospital–Children’s Medical Center, where prospective patients can view detailed service lines, physician bios, and patient testimonials.
• A local Milwaukee Journal Sentinel feature that profiles the hospital staff and highlights patient stories, providing a deeper look at the human side of the rankings.

A Look Ahead

The Patch article concludes on an optimistic note, underscoring that both hospitals are not resting on their laurels. CHW is planning a $15 million expansion of its pediatric surgery program, while St. Joseph is launching a new tele‑pediatrics initiative to reach underserved populations. Both institutions are also investing in data analytics to track outcomes in real time, aiming to close any remaining gaps in care.

For Wisconsin, the ranking of two of its children’s hospitals among the nation’s best is more than a headline—it is a testament to the dedication of countless healthcare professionals, the generosity of donors, and the resilience of families who trust these institutions with their most precious patients. As the state’s pediatric community looks toward the future, the recognition from U.S. News & World Report provides a clear signal that Milwaukee is home to some of the world’s best care for children.