Children's Hospital Colorado Named Top Rocky Mountain Pediatric Hospital in National Rankings

Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora claimed the top ranking among Rocky Mountain region pediatric hospitals in the 2025-2026 Best Children's Hospitals evaluation released October 7 by U.S. News & World Report.

The hospital also earned a position on the national Honor Roll, one of only ten pediatric hospitals nationwide to receive the distinction. The rankings evaluate 118 children's hospitals across 11 pediatric specialties based on clinical outcomes, best practices compliance, and quality of patient care resources.

"U.S. News has long assisted parents and caregivers in finding the best possible care for children with serious illnesses or complex medical needs," said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. "Our annual rankings of pediatric hospitals provide a roadmap to exceptional care for families, not just by specialty, but also by region and state."

Strong Performance Across Multiple Specialties

Children's Hospital Colorado demonstrated particular strength in several specialty areas. The hospital ranked fourth nationally in pediatric cancer care and second in pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, according to the evaluation.

U.S. News, working with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, collected and analyzed data from participating hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists to compile the rankings. Hospitals receiving Best designations excelled in factors including clinical outcomes, adherence to established best practices, and the level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care.

The evaluation included a second annual assessment of pediatric and adolescent behavioral health programs, addressing what Harder described as a critical need. "The data are clear: one in five U.S. children has a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder and nearly one in three youth ages 12 to 17 are navigating a mental or behavioral health condition," he said.

Regional Access Through North Campus

For Northern Colorado families in Larimer and Weld counties, Children's Hospital Colorado primarily provides specialty care through its North Campus facility in Broomfield, located at 469 State Highway 7. The campus opened in 2013 to serve the northern Front Range region, including families from Boulder, Larimer, Weld, and adjacent counties.

The North Campus offers 24-hour pediatric emergency care, urgent care, outpatient and inpatient services, surgical capabilities, and a Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders with infusion services. Specialty clinics at the Broomfield location include cardiology, endocrinology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and urology, among others.

The facility sits approximately 40 to 60 minutes from Fort Collins and Greeley, providing closer access to specialty pediatric care than the main Aurora campus, which requires 75 minutes or more of travel time for most Northern Colorado residents.

For the highest-acuity cases requiring major surgery, transplants, or advanced cardiac and neurological care, families may still be referred to the Aurora main campus, which houses Colorado's only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center and the state's largest array of pediatric subspecialties.

Accessing Care and Insurance Coverage

Children's Hospital Colorado generally requires a referral from a primary care provider or local physician for most specialty appointments at the North Campus. Emergency and urgent care services can be accessed directly without referral.

The hospital participates in most major insurance networks, including Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus, and most employer-provided plans. Prior authorization is often required for specialty services and is typically coordinated through the referring provider's office.

Wait times for specialty appointments vary by service line. High-demand specialties such as neurology and developmental pediatrics may involve waits ranging from several weeks to a few months. Emergency and urgent care services prioritize patients by acuity, with the sickest children seen first.

Families can schedule appointments by contacting the North Campus at 720-478-5000. The hospital also offers a ParentSmart Healthline providing 24-hour nurse advice at 720-777-0123.

The 2025-2026 Best Children's Hospitals rankings will be published in U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals 2026 Guidebook. Complete rankings for national, regional, state, and specialty categories are available at the U.S. News website.

The ten hospitals earning Honor Roll recognition this year were Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's National Hospital in Washington D.C., Cincinnati Children's, Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, Seattle Children's Hospital, and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.