NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital (MSCH) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center has been redesignated as a Level I Pediatric Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Children’s Surgery Verification Committee. This distinction recognizes MCSH for providing the highest quality, comprehensive surgical care for children.
"This Certification by the ACS, awarded after a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation process, is a testament to the level of excellence that we achieve across all areas of pediatric surgical care. Parents and pediatricians can look at that designation and be confident that every child at MSCH reliably and consistently receives the highest standard of care," said William Middlesworth, MD, Chief of Pediatric Surgery.
Established in 2015, the Children’s Surgery Verification Committee was formed to develop national standards to improve surgical outcomes for children of all ages who require surgery. Using existing data, expert opinions, and evidence-based scientific methods, these standards have guided and improved pediatric surgical care ever since.
The verification system uses specific standards to indicate the spectrum of care that must be available at a surgical center. These standards include offering a wide range of pediatric surgical treatments with consistently exceptional outcomes, maintaining the highest level of staffing and training, and a commitment to advancing surgical care through research.
A Level I Pediatric Surgery Center designation indicates that a program meets the highest possible standards in pediatric surgical care, along with clear expectations related to research and educational contributions to the field of pediatric surgery.
To prepare for the verification process, the MSCH team worked to meet or exceed ACS requirements by integrating teams across multiple disciplines, streamlining administrative and surgical processes, and increasing capacity by expanding the number of operating rooms and improving emergency-surgery readiness.
The verification process involves an on-site evaluation by a team of ACS surveyors – experienced pediatric surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists, and pediatric nurses – and an exhaustive review of a center's administrative structure, surgical processes, and clinical outcomes data.
"As the best and largest children’s hospital in NYC, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian has treated the sickest children in the local community and from across the nation for decades," said Dr. Emile Bacha, Chair of the Department of Surgery. "Our comprehensive approach leverages the expertise of our world-class surgeons, nurses, and support staff, along with state-of-the-art resources, to deliver unmatched care, even for the most complex cases. Patients have come from around the world to seek care with us. We’re proud to be a Level 1 Pediatric Surgical Center, as it recognizes our commitment to providing the best care possible.'