Even a slight fever at home can cause concern, and when hearing about a serious illness, parents often start looking for a hospital.

One of the most recommended hospitals for such parents in the Midwest is St. Louis Children's Hospital.

St. Louis Children's Hospital is not just a local children's hospital.

It is recognized as one of the top pediatric specialty hospitals in the country and is regarded as a leading children's healthcare institution in Missouri.

It operates as an educational hospital in partnership with Washington University School of Medicine, making it famous for having world-class pediatric specialists directly involved in patient care.

The hospital's history dates back to 1879. With over 140 years of history, it is the oldest children's hospital west of the Mississippi River and the seventh oldest pediatric hospital in the entire United States. It was established solely for children and continues to provide specialized care from newborns to adolescents.

The hospital is also quite large, operating 455 beds, including a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), a 150-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and a pediatric bone marrow transplant unit. Each year, it treats hundreds of thousands of outpatient visits, with patients coming from all 50 states and over 80 countries.

This hospital is particularly renowned for its organ transplant programs. Heart, lung, liver, kidney, and bone marrow transplants are all rated among the best in the country. Notably, it operates the largest pediatric lung transplant program in the world and has successfully performed over 400 lung and heart-lung transplants. It also established Missouri's first pediatric bone marrow transplant program and is one of the few hospitals in the U.S. that can perform unrelated donor bone marrow transplants.

The pediatric cardiology department is also nationally recognized. It actively treats congenital heart disease, performs cardiac catheterizations, and has a heart transplant program. It is also the hospital that first successfully transplanted hearts from different blood types into some infants in the U.S.

Treatment for neurological disorders is also highly regarded. The pediatric epilepsy center is accredited with the highest level (Level 4) certification in the U.S. and attracts many patients with complex, intractable epilepsy. The hospital is equipped with world-class brain surgery and diagnostic equipment.

Treatment for cerebral palsy is also noteworthy. The hospital's cerebral palsy center is globally recognized in the field of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) and is one of the institutions performing the most surgeries in the U.S., attracting many patients from abroad for treatment.

The cleft lip and palate and craniofacial treatment center also boasts a long history in the U.S. Since 1978, it has treated over 10,000 children, providing both surgery and rehabilitation.

Cancer treatment is also of high quality.

In collaboration with the nearby Siteman Cancer Center, it actively conducts pediatric hematology-oncology treatments and clinical trials, operating a system where multiple specialists work together for rare pediatric cancer treatments. Its research capabilities are also outstanding. The pediatric department at Washington University School of Medicine is one of the pediatric health research centers designated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). New treatment methods, genetic research, and studies on rare diseases are actively conducted, with the latest research results quickly applied to patient care.

The hospital's reputation is very high. In the 2025-2026 rankings of children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, 11 specialties ranked nationally, and it was named the best children's hospital in Missouri. It is located in a medical complex right next to Forest Park in St. Louis. Together with Barnes-Jewish Hospital, it forms a medical campus, making it very convenient for coordinated care when adult and pediatric patients need to be treated together.

St. Louis Children's Hospital, with over 140 years of history, world-class medical staff, and state-of-the-art research facilities, continues to lead children's healthcare in the Midwest.

For parents who want the best treatment for their child, it is one of the leading pediatric specialty hospitals in the U.S. worth remembering.