Accreditations, Awards & Honors
Nationwide Children's Hospital is recognized nationally for exemplary patient care and so much more. Here are some of our recent honors.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Recognized Among Best of the Best
Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been named to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll for the 11th consecutive year. The Honor Roll is a top distinction awarded to only 10 children’s hospitals nationwide. Nationwide Children’s has been named by U.S. News as tied for the No. 1 pediatric hospital in Ohio and the Midwest and is ranked among the nation’s best in all 11 specialties, with seven ranked in the top 10.
Learn more about our rankings
Nationwide Children's Hospital Named to Forbes' 2025 America's Best Employers List
February 2025 - Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been named one of “America’s Best Employers” by Forbes for the fifth consecutive year. Named to the national list of 700 top large employers (companies with more than 5,000 U.S.-based employees), Nationwide Children’s is ranked as one of the top two organizations in Ohio and as one of the top 5 children’s hospitals in the United States.
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Named One of America’s Best Employers for Women
Nationwide Children’s Hospital has ranked first on Forbes’ 2024 “America’s Best Employers for Women” list. Nationwide Children’s was recognized as number one among 600 companies based on a survey of 150,000 women working for companies with at least 1,000 employees in the United States.
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Five-Time Magnet Designation for Nursing Excellence
The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program® - which recognizes health care organizations worldwide for their commitment to nursing excellence and innovation - has awarded Nationwide Children’s Hospital its fifth consecutive Magnet Designation. There are just over 600 Magnet designated hospitals in the world, with less than 1% having achieved this honor five or more times.
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Nationwide Children's Hospital Recognized as Level 1 Children's Surgery Center
In 2022, the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification quality improvement program verified Nationwide Children's as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center.
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Nationwide Children's Named to List of 15 Most Innovative Children's Hospitals by Parents Magazine
Nationwide Children's Hospital has been named to Parents Magazine's List of 15 Most Innovative Children's Hospitals for 2021. Nationwide Children's was specifically recognized for the work being done in our Center for Surgical Outcomes for an appendectomy alternative.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Awarded the 2020 Hearst Health Prize
Hearst Health and the Jefferson College of Population Health announced Nationwide Children’s Hospital as the winner of the 2020 Hearst Health Prize for Excellence in Population Health. Nationwide Children’s was awarded this prize for its Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families (HNHF) initiative and its mission to improve outcomes for children and families by creating healthy, opportunity-rich communities.
Nationwide Children's Recognized as BlackDoctor.org 2019-20 Top Hospital for Diversity
Nationwide Children’s Hospital earned a spot as a BlackDoctor.org 2019-20 Top Hospital For Diversity. Each hospital on this distinguished list delivers quality care at the highest level, while promoting equity and inclusion in their operations, programs services and staffing.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Awarded Nuestra Familia Award
For outstanding support of Ohio’s Latino and Hispanic community, Nationwide Children’s Hospital was awarded the 2019 Nuestra Familia Award by the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Earns 2019 Most Wired Recognition for Use of Technology
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) announced Nationwide Children’s Hospital has earned 2019 CHIME HealthCare’s Most Wired recognition as a certified level 7. The Most Wired program conducts an annual survey to assess how effectively healthcare organizations apply core and advanced technologies into their clinical and business programs to improve health and care in their communities.
Re-designated as a Magnet™ organization
Nationwide Children’s is proud to be one of 2 percent of hospitals re-designated as a Magnet™ organization.
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Nationwide Children’s Named to Forbes’ 2018 America’s Best Employers List
Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been named to Forbes’ 2018 ‘America’s Best Employers’ list in the top large employers category. Out of the 25 hospitals and health systems named to the national list of 500 top large employers, Nationwide Children’s was the top-ranked children’s hospital.
2017 Clinical Care Category: Primary Care Award Winner
Nationwide Children's Hospital is the 2017 Clinical Care Category: Primary Care Award Winner in the Children’s Hospital Association Pediatric Quality Award! “Quality Improvement in Primary Care: Reducing Emergency Department Visits in Children with Asthma” was an incredible improvement initiative – many patients and children’s hospitals will benefit from your hospital’s work.
Congratulations to Our Best Doctors
More than 250 physicians on our medical staff were named to the Best Doctors in America® List for 2017-2018. According to Best Doctors, who produces the list, approximately four percent of doctors in America earn this prestigious honor. Each listed physician has received peer consensus as a physician from whom other physicians would seek care. For additional information about Best Doctors in America, visit BestDoctors.com.
Heart Center Accreditation
The Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s is the first pediatric catheterization laboratory in the United States to be accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) as a Cardiovascular Catheterization Accreditation Program.
Prestigious Design Award for Nationwide Children’s Hospital
The Columbus Landmarks Foundation presented its annual James B. Recchie Design Award to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The award “celebrates projects that add to the distinctive character and improved quality of life of Columbus.” The award focused on the Nationwide Children’s expansion that was completed in 2012.
Nancy Recchie, a historic preservation consultant and sister of the award’s namesake, recognized that in her comments to The Columbus Dispatch about Nationwide Children’s:
“Its laser focus on the child and family is evident everywhere, from the creative wayfinding system, to public areas that are bright and uplifting, to the patient rooms,” she said. “The thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces and park along Livingston Avenue are for use by both patient families and the neighborhood.”
ACHA Accreditation
Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center program is one of the first to earn ACHA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Accredited Comprehensive Care Center designation. In recognition of its expertise in serving adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), the Adolescent and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is one of the first in the U.S. to receive accreditation from the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA). ACHA is a national organization focused on patient advocacy, education, and research. ACHA connects patients, family members and healthcare providers to form an Adult Congenital Heart community to improve the lives of those living with CHD.
Make Safe Happen App Wins Prestigious Award
Nationwide Children’s partnered with Nationwide to create the Make Safe Happen app, which won its category at the 2017 MediaPost Appy awards. This makes it one of the top mobile applications in the nation. The app provides tips and tools to assure a home is safe for children.
Partners For Kids Earns NCQA Certification in Credentialing
Partners For Kids has been certified by the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) in Credentialing. NCQA certification is a voluntary process that is governed by the Standards for Certification in Credentialing, developed with the assistance of representatives from NCQA’s Standards Committee, Review Oversight Committee, and input from other organizations.
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers. NCQA has reviewed and certified Partners For Kids’ Credentialing functions only. For complete details on the scope of this review, visit www.ncqa.org.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Research Partnership Receives 2017 Distinguished International Engagement Award
Nationwide Children’s “NCH-China Pediatric Violence and Injury Prevention and Research International Program” was selected by The Ohio State University to receive the 2017 Distinguished International Engagement Award.
25 Years Strong - Inpatient Rehabilitation Maintains CARF Accreditation
The Inpatient Rehabilitation Program recently received a CARF Three-Year Accreditation - our ninth consecutive accreditation. This demonstrates our commitment to providing programs and services of the highest quality to our patients and families.
Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center Reverification Awarded From ACS
Results from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) confirmed Nationwide Children’s Hospital Trauma Program has successfully completed reverification as a level 1 pediatric trauma center, now celebrating their 25th year with such distinction. The amount of work that goes into a visit like this is commendable and includes more than 10 months of gathering documentation to prepare for this visit, intense review of patient care, research, quality and education, and spans across more than 100 standards set forth by ACS. Congratulations to the trauma program and more than 500 Nationwide Children's trauma team members.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Earns Coveted 2016 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award
The Leapfrog Group announced Nationwide Children’s has been named a Top Hospital. Widely acknowledged as one of the most prestigious distinctions a hospital can receive in the U.S., the recognition showcases Nationwide Children’s commitment to patient safety and quality. Nationwide Children’s received a Top Children’s Hospital distinction as one of only nine children’s hospitals, and was one of 115 Top Hospitals recognized across the country. The selection of Top Hospitals is based on the results of the 2016 Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, maternity care, and a hospital’s ability to prevent medication errors.