The Best NICU Hospitals

Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) specialize in intensive medical care for ill or premature newborns. In its annual hospital rankings, "U.S. News and World Report" magazine recognizes the five U.S. hospitals with the best NICUs. The criteria used for selection include ratings for pediatric specialists, nurse staffing, success in preventing central line infections and patient volume.

1. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

• In addition to its top "U.S. News" ranking, the neonatology unit of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has been named first in the nation by Parents Magazine. CHOP's Division of Neonatology provides comprehensive level IV care for critically ill newborns and premature infants in Philadelphia and serves NICU units in other hospitals including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Chester County Hospital, Doylestown Hospital, Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenixville Hospital, University Medical Center Princeton and Shore Memorial Hospital.

  The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard

  Philadelphia, PA 19104

  215-590-1000

  www.chop.edu

2. Children's Hospital Boston

• Boston Children's, founded in 1869, is Harvard Medical School's primary pediatric teaching hospital. It serves as a major referral center for children in New England, throughout the country and around the world. The hospital's Newborn Medicine program practices advanced newborn medicine in NICUs and special care nurseries in several affiliated suburban medical centers. Boston Children's has the world's most active research program based at a pediatric medical center. It has been awarded more federal research funding than any other pediatric facility.

  Children's Hospital Boston

  300 Longwood Avenue

  Boston, MA 02115-5737

  (617) 355--6000

  www.childrenshospital.org/

3. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

• The hospital's Division of Neonatology provides 24-hour clinical coverage for Level III NICUs at three Cincinnati area hospitals -- Cincinnati Children's, University Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital, as well as seven Level II special care nurseries. Among pediatric specialty hospitals, Cincinnati Children's is the second-highest-ranking recipient of National Institutes of Health research grants.

  Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

  3333 Burnet Avenue

  Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039

  (513) 636--4200

  www.cincinnatichildrens.org

Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

• Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital is part of University Hospitals Case Medical Center, a nationally recognized academic medical center in Cleveland. The NICU of Rainbow is one of just 12 U.S. facilities named a Neonatal Research Center by the National Institutes of Health. Rainbow researchers have been conducting large group studies on why premature babies breathe poorly and stop breathing.

  University Hospitals Case Medical Center

  11100 Euclid Avenue

  Cleveland, OH 44106-2602

  (216) 844--1000

  www.UHhospitals.org

New York-Presbyterian University of Columbia and Cornell

• Located in New York City, New York-Presbyterian has nearly 2 million inpatient and outpatient visits every year at five major medical centers. This ranks it as one of the nation's busiest not-for-profit hospitals. It is the only U.S. hospital that is affiliated with two Ivy League medical schools -- Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

  New York-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell

  525 East 68th Street

  New York, NY 10021-4885

  (212) 746--5454

  www.nyp.org