Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Sanford Medical Center Fargo in North Dakota have been awarded on Money’s list of Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care in 2025. The annual ranking recognizes the top 75 pediatric hospitals in the U.S., highlighting medical centers that not only deliver safe, high-quality care but also are staffed by experienced providers who are excellent communicators.
“Sanford is proud to be recognized by Money as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the country, as it is a true indication of the dedication and talents of our pediatric care team,” said Melanie Rusche, vice president of operations for women’s and children’s services at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. “We work every day to provide high-quality, compassionate care to children as they grow from newborns to young adults. We are committed to keeping our youngest patients comfortable by creating a healing environment that focuses on letting kids be kids.”
“We are proud to be recognized as one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals. This honor is a reflection of the unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise of our entire team, who consistently go above and beyond to deliver the highest quality care to our patients and the communities we serve,” said Ashley Erickson, Sanford Fargo vice president of operations for women’s and children’s services. “Having a child in the hospital is never easy for any family, but those who place their trust in Sanford Children’s can be confident that their loved ones are in the most capable and compassionate hands. Our caregivers treat every child as if they were their own — offering not only advanced medical care, but also the empathy and support that every family deserves.”
List considers pediatric specialists, quality ratings
Money created their list of the top 75 pediatric hospitals based on the following criteria:
- High-quality facilities: Money looked at facilities that have received either a four- or five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS rating is based on five key factors: mortality, safety, re-admission, patient experience, and timely and effective care. Each facility’s ranking contributed to 45% of their total score.
- Pediatric expertise: High-performing doctors and providers were identified based on their level of experience with certain procedures. To be measured by pediatric experience, and considered for this specialty list, facilities must have active pediatric specialists on staff. These pediatric specialty factors comprise 45% of a hospital’s score.
- Quality care: The remaining 10% of the score accounts for designations and accolades that indicate a hospital’s focus on providing quality care. These include a childhood asthma certification from the Joint Commission as well as quality care awards from the American Nursing Credentialing Center and the Emergency Nurses Association.
For four consecutive years, Sanford Medical Center Fargo has been named the No. 1 hospital in North Dakota by U.S. News & World Report and earlier this year was named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals.
Earlier this year, Sanford USD Medical Center was recognized as the No. 1 hospital in South Dakota by U.S. News & World Report and was named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2024 list.
Find out more about pediatric care services at Sanford Health.
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Posted In Awards & Recognition, Children's, Company News, Fargo, News, Sioux Falls, Specialty Care
