Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia got its start in 1855 as the nation's first hospital solely devoted to the care of children. What began as a 12-bed operation that served 67 inpatients and 306 clinic patients in its first year has grown into a 527-bed hospital that handles more than 1 million inpatient admissions and outpatient visits annually. The hospital is also home to a prolific pediatric research facility and one of the largest pediatric healthcare networks in the country, including upwards of 50 pediatrician offices, specialty care centers and surgical centers.
U.S. News & World Report ranked CHOP No. 2 on its 2015-16 Honor Roll of children's hospitals. CHOP has also been recognized for excellence in nursing with a Magnet designation. The hospital emphasizes family involvement in care by encouraging parents to actively participate in the decision-making process and providing support services such as chaplaincy, family consultants and support groups.
Accompanying its status as the nation's first children's hospital, CHOP boasts a myriad of other firsts that solidify the institution as a trailblazer in pediatric medicine. Notable firsts include the first medical training for pediatric physicians, the first neonatal surgical and pediatric intensive care unit in the nation and the first follow-up program for long-term survivors of childhood cancer. CHOP also provided its patients with the first vaccines for mumps, whooping cough, influenza and rotavirus.
 |
 |
 |
