Company Profile
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Company Overview
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the #1 children’s hospital in the United States, strives to be the world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children by integrating excellent patient care, innovative research and quality professional education into all of its programs. The Hospital was one of the first in the United States to recognize the importance of treating all aspects of the patient, including emotional well-being and that of the child's family. We work to educate families as partners in their children's care, and we rely on their feedback to improve our services.
At Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, we provide an environment that's as nurturing as it is dynamic. Our team-oriented approach allows for ample learning and career growth opportunities. We think you'll find that CHOP offers the ideal atmosphere in which to best use your skills and talents. We are eager for your input, ideas and inspiration.
Company History
When Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855, most childhood illnesses were treated at home because infants and children admitted to adult hospitals often died due to cross-infection or neglect.
After visiting the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London, Francis West Lewis, MD, decided to create a hospital in the United States dedicated to finding cures and treating illnesses and injuries specific to children. He persuaded two friends, T. Hewson Bache, MD, and R.A.F. Penrose, MD, to join him in the venture. In the Hospital's first year, it had 12 beds and a dispensary, and the physicians served 67 inpatients and 306 clinic patients.
The Hospital has moved three times since first opening its doors on what is now Watts Street in downtown Philadelphia. On June 23, 1974, the Hospital moved all its equipment and patients to its current location at 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard in West Philadelphia.
Over the years, the Hospital added Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, one of the largest pediatric research facilities in the United States, and acquired Children's Seashore House, a comprehensive pediatric rehabilitation center. The Hospital also has built what now is the largest pediatric healthcare network in the United States, with nearly 50 sites that treat children throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
From 1855 on, Children's Hospital has remained true to our founders' vision, nurturing some of the nation's pioneers and innovators in pediatric medicine and contributing a number of firsts to the field.
Today, the Hospital has 430 beds and had more than 1 million outpatient and inpatient visits last year.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shares the No. 1 spot on U.S.News & World Report’s Honor Roll of the nation's Best Children’s Hospitals. CHOP also ranked first in the nation for neonatology, pulmonology, and diabetes and endocrinology, and in the top 4 for seven other pediatric specialties ranked by the U.S. News survey.
CHOP was one of only three children’s hospitals in the nation to be recognized in the top 4 of all 10 pediatric specialty areas. It is the only hospital in the region to be named to the prestigious U.S. News Honor Roll.
To create the 2011-12 rankings, U.S.News & World Report surveyed nearly 180 children’s hospitals to obtain clinical data and asked 1,500 doctors in 10 pediatric specialties where they would send the sickest children.
CHOP earned high marks for the quality of its treatment, survival rates, research and other factors. The hospital was also recognized for its “very strong” reputation with specialists and “superior” nurse-patient ratios.
Parents magazine has ranked The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia the best pediatric hospital in the United States, based on a comprehensive data-based survey.
In addition to the overall ranking, Parents magazine also ranked CHOP's emergency medicine, neonatology and pulmonology divisions No. 1 in the nation. The Cardiac Center, Cancer Center and orthopaedics division ranked second.