MUSC Children’s Hospital heart specialties ranked in U.S. News

The Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital has been named to the America’s Best Children’s Hospitals list in the August issue of U.S. News and World Report.

MUSC Children’s Hospital was ranked No. 20 in the pediatric specialty of heart and heart surgery.

“We are indeed proud to be recognized again as one of the top children’s hospitals nationally for heart and heart surgery,” said Dr. Philip Saul, medical director and director of pediatric cardiology for the hospital.

The 2010 America’s Best Children’s Hospitals ranks hospitals in 10 specialties, such as cancer, diabetes and neonatal care.

“We are particularly pleased by our mortality ranking in the highest category (3 of 3), which only five of the top 20 programs received,” Saul said. “This indicates that children with complex heart conditions requiring surgery are more likely to survive at MUSC than almost any other program in the U.S.”

The Children’s Heart Center has a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit, a multidisciplinary nursing team and child-life specialists. Physicians use advanced imaging and interventional techniques in planning and treatment, such as minimally invasive catheter procedures and cardiac CT scans and MRI.

“The many patients and families served by Dr. Saul and his colleagues know firsthand what a difference this kind of care can make in their lives,” said Ray Greenberg, MUSC president.