CHA Releases Report with First-Of-Its-Kind Data on Children’s Hospitals’ Impact and Challenges

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Today, Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) released new data on the critical role acute care children’s hospitals play in meeting the health care needs of infants, children and teens and the challenges these specialized facilities face while caring for some of the most vulnerable patients. This second installment of CHA’s two-part Industry Impact Report surveyed 36 children’s hospitals across the United States, gathering insights on the role these hospitals play in serving children and communities, along with top concerns facing the industry. 

"This is the first time our industry has been able to aggregate data that helps tell a more complete story about the role children’s hospitals play in advancing the health of children," said Matthew Cook, CEO of CHA. “It’s even more impactful when you look at these latest findings alongside part one of the report which shared parent and caregiver perspectives on the role children’s hospitals play in America’s health care system.” 

Part two of the Industry Report features a survey—conducted in partnership with the public affairs impact agency LSG—that polled 36 acute care children’s hospitals nationwide. Topline findings from the report include: 

• Acute care children's hospitals are most concerned about high labor costs (78%) and the lack of mental health resources for children (58%). This concern is underscored by a massive increase in patients requiring mental health care (94%). 
• A vast majority of these hospitals treat 10,000 or more patients annually for urgent care (79%) and immunizations (62%) and 5,000 or more patients annually for mental health issues (54%) and major surgeries (53%). 
• More than three-quarters are actively involved in their communities, addressing critical social barriers to children's health, including mental health (97%), nutrition and exercise (94%), food insecurity (89%), and gun violence (83%). 
• A majority are engaged in groundbreaking research or clinical trials (70%) in fields like cancer (83%), neonatal medicine (75%), and neurology (72%), with an overwhelming majority (93%) sharing their findings across the public and private sectors. 
• All hospitals surveyed are collaborating with other regional hospitals to provide pediatric care, yet nearly three-fourths (74%) believe government funding for such partnerships is inadequate. 

“The results from this report are clear, now more than ever, our country’s policymakers must recognize the value of our acute care children’s hospitals and invest in the highly specialized pediatric workforce that makes this care possible,” Cook said.

"This data, paired with the findings from our parent and caregiver survey, provides unique insights into the breadth and depth of care children’s hospitals provide," said Phillip Morris, partner at LSG and head of the firm's research and insights practice. "The sheer scope of services provided and the community outreach efforts underway are remarkable. Yet, the challenges they face are significant. It is imperative that we recognize and address these needs to ensure the continued health and well-being of our nation’s children."

The Industry Impact Report is part of the association's "Made Possible by Your Children's Hospital" campaign, celebrating the big and small moments made possible because of the advanced, specialized care America's children's hospitals provide.  

The full results of the Industry Impact Report can be found here. The first installment of the report includes an analysis of parent and caregiver perspectives on the importance of children's hospitals to America's health care system and parent and caregiver preferences on workforce initiatives.