Improving Long-Term Health Outcomes for Children

Children’s hospitals are driving the research, data insights, and innovations that shape healthier futures for kids.

Published Jan. 29, 2026|

As leaders in pediatric data and research, children’s hospitals advance innovations that focus on children and medical conditions that emerge in childhood.

Federal funding and direct investments from children’s hospitals allow pediatric clinical research teams to identify the underlying causes of pediatric diseases and develop cutting-edge treatments for a wide range of conditions. They also support crucial research and analytics that inform clinical care guidelines, national quality measures, and federal policies to make health care more effective, affordable, and accessible.

The Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) accelerates this work through peer-led collaboratives and programs like the Pediatric Health Information System® (PHIS), Health Services Research, and national quality improvement collaboratives.

See how CHA and our members are transforming pediatric care and why financial support is essential to children’s health.

About Children's Hospital Association

Children’s Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 200 children’s hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost, and delivery of care.

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Powering pediatric research and innovation

Advancing the science and infrastructure that fuel discovery.

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Why Life-Saving Pediatric Treatments Need NIH Funding

National Institutes of Health research funding is responsible for many curative and life-enhancing medical advancements for children.

6 Pediatric Medicine Breakthroughs Made Possible by Federal Research Funding

Life-changing scientific innovations from children’s hospitals show how public investment changes lives.

New Data Platform Will Expand Pediatric Research Possibilities

The Children’s Hospital Association wins the 2025 Amazon Web Services Children’s Health Innovation Award for our new Children’s Health Learning Platform.

Improving care quality and outcomes

Using data, benchmarking, and collaboration to raise the standard of care.

New Readmissions Benchmarking Tool Guides Quality Improvement

A readmissions predictor helps children’s hospitals reduce patient stays and compare their rates to peers at every APR-DRG level.

The Transformative Impact of a 66-Hospital Collaborative

A physician’s 8-year journey with the Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes collaborative and how it has helped improve patient outcomes.

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The Real Cost of Caring for Kids: Why Children’s Hospitals Require Different Metrics

Comparing children’s hospitals to adult facilities misses the mark.

Supporting families and strengthening communities

Improving health through whole‑child and whole‑family care.

Children's Hospital Initiatives Prevent Childhood Illnesses

Pediatric hospitals are helping children live longer, healthier lives through programs that prioritize prevention, well-being, and resilience.

Community Health Matters: How to Make an Impact

Explore children’s hospitals’ work that goes beyond the hospital walls and into the community.

Mapping the Need: Children's Hospital Association Data Helps Ronald McDonald House Support More Families

The Children’s Hospital Association’s unique pediatric dashboard will allow Ronald McDonald House to expand its support for families of children receiving medical treatment.

Expanding access to cutting-edge treatments

Ensuring children can benefit from the latest therapies and clinical advances.