Objective: To identify comprehensive pediatric hospitals on the basis of publicly available data.
Study design: We developed identification criteria for comprehensive pediatric hospitals, then evaluated the number of hospitals meeting these selection criteria. Criteria for a comprehensive pediatric hospital included pediatric residency accreditation, pediatric inpatient volume, and diversity of pediatric disorders at each hospital. New York State hospital administrative discharge data were analyzed for patients 0 to 14 years of age, excluding neonatal diagnoses.
Results: Infants and children (n = 125,588) with 375 different diagnosis-related groups were discharged from 230 hospitals in 2000. Through the use of higher selective criteria (educational accreditation plus both high volume and diversity in the top decile), 11 comprehensive pediatric hospitals were identified. These hospitals serve populations of 1.7 +/- 0.3 million (mean +/- SD) each, with 8 referral regions throughout the state, collectively providing care for 29% of all pediatric statewide hospitalizations.
Conclusions: Comprehensive pediatric hospitals serve the population of New York widely and evenly. The ability to identify pediatric hospitals will permit evaluation of the relative quality of care and suggest appropriate regulatory interventions to improve pediatric hospital utilization.