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Pediatric cardiology ranked among best in nation by U.S. News & World Report U.S News & World Report has ranked MUSC Children’s Hospital as one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals (No. 19) in the heart and heart surgery category.   MUSC Children’s Hospital continues to enhance its reputation as a national and international referral center for complex pediatric heart cases through ongoing development and expansion of medical services. These services allow patients throughout the world with the most difficult cardiac diseases and conditions to receive the latest in advanced care.   “We’re growing and building and taking on some of the most challenging cases from the region and around the world,” said Phil Saul, M.D., medical director of MUSC Children’s Hospital and chief of pediatric cardiology at MUSC. “The U.S. News ranking reflects this, and it’s wonderful to be recognized in this way. We are most proud of being one of the nine centers with the very lowest mortality rates for complex cases.”   The pediatric offer advanced interventional techniques and clinical services in all areas of pediatric cardiology—surgery, catheterization, electro-physiology, fetal echocardiography, adult congenital heart disease and intensive care.   The hospital also serves as the tertiary referral center for the Children’s Heart Program of South Carolina, which is a network of pediatric cardiologists throughout the state. Through the network, pediatric patients needing cardiac care receive all of their outpatient medical care close to home. When more specialized care such as catheterization procedures or surgeries are needed, patients are sent to MUSC.   “Very sick kids need very special care,” said senior writer Avery Comarow, who has been editor of the America’s Best Hospitals and America’s Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings since their inception. “The best places for them are pediatric facilities with a deep pool of expertise in their particular illness. Breaking out key specialties is crucial to helping parents and other caregivers find these facilities.”   The basis for all of the magazine's rankings was a blend of reputation, outcome and care-related measures such as volume, nursing and credentialing.   A detailed description of the methodology can be found online at http://www.usnews.com/pediatrics.     Friday, June 13, 2008 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.