By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
Two Kentucky children’s hospitals have been named among the best hospitals in the nation in the annual ranking by U.S. News and World Report magazine.
Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville was named the No. 1 children’s hospital in Kentucky and 11th in the Midwest region.
“This honor reflects the incredible work of our team,” Russell Cox, president and CEO of Norton Healthcare, the parent organization of Norton Children’s, said in a news release. “We are dedicated to providing nationally ranked specialties, advanced research and outcomes that our patients and families deserve.”
This recognition comes on the heels of Norton Children’s Hospital’s announcement of its plans for a new 150-acre pediatric health campus in Jeffersontown, which will include the region’s second full-service children’s hospital.
Norton Children’s Hospital was also ranked nationally in eight children’s specialties, including behavioral health (ranked in the top 50), cancer (No. 32), cardiology and heart surgery (No. 42), diabetes (No. 18), neurology and neurosurgery (No. 44), orthopedics (No. 26), pulmonology and lung surgery (No. 35) and urology (No. 43).
The Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington was ranked No. 2 in Kentucky and tied for 21st in the Midwest region.
Kentucky Children’s Hospital ranked nationally in two children’s specialties, including pediatric cardiology and heart surgery (No. 11) and orthopedics (No. 45).
“Healthy children grow into healthy adults, shaping a stronger future for Kentucky,” Dr. Scottie B. Day, physician-in-chief for KCH, said in a news release. “Our pediatric cardiology program — recognized through our joint ranking with Cincinnati Children’s — remains among the best in the nation, and our partnership with Shriners Children’s in Lexington brings nationally recognized expertise in orthopedics. These achievements reflect the dedication of our teams and the strength of our collaborations, ensuring families across Kentucky can access the most advanced treatments and technology without leaving the state.”
Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center in Lexington was also recognized nationally in one children’s specialty, orthopedics (No. 45). Shriners is a children’s orthopedic facility.
“U.S. News includes Kentucky Children’s Hospital and University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital in evaluating the performance of Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center — Lexington in pediatric orthopedics,” according to the U.S. News report.
For the 2025-26 rankings, U.S. News, together with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed hospital-submitted data from 118 children’s hospitals and surveyed 11 pediatric specialities in medical, surgical and behavioral and mental health.
The hospital rankings are determined by a methodology that looks at three broad areas of quality: patient outcomes, care-related resources and efficient coordination of care. In addition, results from a survey of pediatric specialists contribute to the score.
