Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a nonprofit pediatric academic medical center dedicated to improving child health. Founded in 1883 as the Hospital for Sick Children, it is now one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the United States and is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The hospital provides comprehensive pediatric care, including primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community services, and international services. It also offers a wide range of research programs and educational opportunities.
As a leading provider of pediatric healthcare in the Midwest region of the United States, Cincinnati Children’s serves children from birth through 21 years of age. The hospital has over 1 million patient visits each year and treats patients from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. In addition to its main campus in Cincinnati’s Avondale neighborhood – which includes 513 beds – Cincinnati Children’s maintains locations throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Services are also provided at three international sites: London (United Kingdom), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), and Beijing (China).
Cincinnati Children’s is consistently ranked among the best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and Parents magazine. The hospital was ranked #3 on U.S News & World Report’s 2016-17 Honor Roll list of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals – making it one of only 10 children’s hospitals nationwide to receive this distinction – and was named “Best Children’s Hospital” by Parents magazine for 2017-18.. In 2019-20 ,the hospital was again recognized as one of only 10 children’s hospitals on U.S News & World Report’s Honor Roll list In addition to these national rankings, Cincinnati Children’s has been consistently ranked as one of the top two performers in Ohio on Leapfrog Group’s semi-annual assessment of hospital safety
A Brief History
The history of Cincinnati Children’s dates back to 1883 when Frances Elizabeth Willard started a free dispensary for sick children outgrowth from her work with indigent women during the Civil War . Inspired by her own experiences as a working mother , Ms . Willard wanted to ensure that other mothers would not have to choose between work and caring for their sick children . With $600 raised from public donations , she opened a 12 – bed facility known as the Hospital for Sick Children on February 15 , 1883 . By 1886 , construction began on a new building at Liberty Street and Wade Street ( now Central Parkway ) . The new facility included an operating room , laboratory , x-ray machine , pharmacy , classrooms , kitchen , storeroom s , outdoor play area s , gardens After moving into this new building in October 1888.,the name was changed to ‘Willard Parker Hospital for SickChildren’. A larger facility soon became necessary due to increased demand for services . Plans were made for another move – this time to Burnet Avenue near McMillan Street – but before construction could be completed Ms . Willard passed away unexpectedly on March 17 th 1896 at just 52 years old Her nephew Dr William Sedgwick Warden took over leadershipof the hospital upon her death Under his direction construction resumedon what would become known as ‘The New Willard ParkerHospital’ which opened its doors September 1898