By Bruce Hagevik, NewsRadio 830 WCCO

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – For the fifth consecutive year Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesot and Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare have been named among the top pediatric hospitals in the nation. That’s according to a study by U.S. News.

“There were things like nurse-to-patient ratio, the actual outcomes, the infection rate — these are the factors that matter to patients,” said Dr. Alan Goldbloom, president and CEO of Children’s.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Bruce Hagevik Reports

He said maintaining a high level of quality will become a financial challenge if Medicaid funding is reduced.

“Medicaid accounts for approximately 50 percent of funding of children’s hospitals across the country,” said Goldbloom.

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare was also ranked among the top in the nation for orthopedics and nuerology/neurosurgery.  Gillette is the only Twin Cities children’s hospital to be ranked in these two categories.

“Gillette’s unique specialties and services make it a vital resource to children throughout the region, nation, and world,” says Margaret Perryman, president and CEO, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. “Our rankings are a reflection not only of Gillette’s unrivaled expertise in our specialty areas, but also of the exceptional patient care provided throughout our hospital.”

The new rankings recognize the top 50 children’s hospitals in 10 specialties.