Lurie Children’s Named Among 20 Most Innovative Children’s Hospitals by Parents Magazine

September 05, 2018

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago was named by Parents magazine as one of the country’s 20 most innovative children’s hospitals in 2018. To compile the list, the magazine sent a detailed survey to 162 hospital members of the Children’s Hospital Association, asking about published studies, patents, technology use, partnerships, and innovations across specialty areas. The winning hospitals were selected because they adopted the latest technologies and successfully implemented their own innovations that made a difference in their patients’ lives.

“Innovation is key to advancing pediatric care and realizing our vision to achieve a healthier future for every child,” says Patrick M. Magoon, President & CEO of Lurie Children’s. “We are proud to be recognized for our innovations and listed among this elite group of children’s hospitals.”

Innovations from Lurie Children’s highlighted by Parents in its October issue include:

  • Child-friendly hospital design – The creative, child-focused interiors at Lurie Children’s were developed in partnership with over 20 of Chicago’s premier cultural and civic institutions. In the hospital’s main lobby, families are greeted by near life-size models of a mother humpback whale and her calf that were donated by the Shedd Aquarium. Each floor of the hospital has its own creative theme and exhibit to provide a fun distraction from hospitalization, while stimulating curiosity and promoting learning.
  • NICU2HOME – This app provides parents of preemies personalized educational materials and helps them track the baby’s progress in the neonatal intensive care unit. A study of an earlier version of the app found that parents felt more prepared for discharge and more confident when caring for their infants at home. The new version, which will be available January 1, 2019, is currently being tested by parents of preemies at Prentice Women’s Hospital, where Lurie Children’s neonatologists also practice.
  • “Virtual” family-centered rounds – Based on an idea suggested by a parent, a secure app allows parents who cannot be at their children’s bedside in the pediatric intensive care unit to participate in daily rounds with the care team. Parents can see and interact with their child, talk to the doctor, ask questions and receive customized updates from the clinical team on information that is important to them.
  • Camp “Urban Explorers” – This eight-week themed summer camp for Lurie Children’s patients and their siblings offers fun activities at the bedside and in the family life center. Activities have ranged from making dream catchers to making musical instruments, while partnerships with cultural institutions and museums allows the camp to bring "field trips" to the hospital.

To cultivate innovation, in 2014 Lurie Children’s launched IGNITE Innovation Center that is geared to patients in the hospital’s Lefkofsky Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Founded by PICU physician Marcelo Malakooti, MD, the foundation of IGNITE relies on cross-pollinating with a wide variety of experts from different industries, who hold a vested interest in children’s health, to rapidly generate creative ideas and solutions. Innovation forums are held throughout the year, and each addresses a critical issue facing patients, families and staff in the PICU.

“The solutions that have been produced as a result of IGNITE’s creative fast-track ideation have been translated into meaningful interventions,” says Dr. Malakooti. “We are fusing healthcare innovation with community engagement for enhancing children’s health.”

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals in the U.S.News & World Report. It is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Last year, the hospital served more than 208,000 children from 50 states and 58 countries.