Quality and Outcomes Reports - Birthmarks and Vascular Anomalies

U.S. Referrals

Why we measure it - Research shows that physicians and hospitals that treat a large number of patients tend to provide better care and have improved outcomes for treatments and procedures.

What this means - More than 50 percent of patients in the Birthmarks and Vascular Anomalies Center travel from outside Milwaukee to receive care. This reflects our expertise and the growing national reputation of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

About the data - The map shows the states our patients came from in 2012.

Related dimensions of care:

What we're doing to provide the best care:

  • We led the development of one of the nation's premier programs specifically designed to diagnose and treat vascular malformation in pediatric patients. The Birthmarks and Vascular Anomalies Center at Children's Hospital is a multidisciplinary service providing care for infants, children and adults with complex vascular anomalies.
  • Patients see all the necessary specialists at one visit, and health care team members meet to discuss all treatment options and provide a unified opinion and treatment plan. 
  • Beth Drolet, MD, is listed in the Best Doctors in America® database. She is one of the leaders of the Hemangioma Investigator Group, a clinical research group composed of 11 international sites, which is focused on furthering the knowledge and treatment of hemangiomas.
  • The Birthmarks and Vascular Anomalies team consists of pediatric specialists in Dermatology, Oncology, Radiology, Pathology, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Ophthalmology. All are board-certified in their specialty.
  • Our specialists conduct cutting-edge research to find the cause of and potential cures for infantile hemangiomas. Michael Kelly, MD, PhD, is the principal investigator for a multi-center randomized trial for the treatment of complicated hemangiomas. The diagnostic, therapeutic and response criteria experimentally determined in this study will be used as a framework for future phase three clinical trials. Paula North, MD, PhD, is internationally recognized for her landmark research regarding the cell of origin of hemangiomas.
  • We provide a nurse clinician who helps families navigate the hospital system by coordinating appointments, tests and procedures with multiple providers and directing families to resources for family accommodations.
  • We offer the Family Accommodations Program to help make travel arrangements and coordinate appointments for families traveling to our center from a long distance.

Click here for recent articles and publications.

Patients and families:

  • If you cannot keep a scheduled appointment, please call Central Scheduling at (877) 607-5280 or (414) 607-5280 as soon as possible to reschedule so another child can be seen.
  • Check with your insurance provider before your visit to see if a referral is needed to see a specialist at Children's Hospital.
  • Bring the name, address, phone and fax numbers of your primary care and/or referring doctor so we can update them appropriately on your care.
  • Bring a full list of the medications your child is taking including over-the-counter medicines such as vitamins, supplements and topical ointments or creams that are applied to the skin.
  • If your child needs surgery, make sure you complete the surgery information packet provided by your doctor and follow all the instructions.  

Referring physicians:

  • Referring physicians can access our specialists for consultation or transport 24 hours a day. Call our physician referral line at (800) 266-0366.  
  • Health care providers from outside of our southeastern Wisconsin service area are encouraged to use our web-based 
    e-Consult service. This service is available for non-urgent patient cases only and gives providers access to our specialists to review patient cases, obtain medical advice or second opinions, and receive care recommendations for rare symptoms and illnesses.
    e-Consult is not to be used by the general public, parents/guardians or families.
  • Care guidelines for medical professionals
  • Educational materials
  • Pocket Directory

If you have questions about these data or information, email us or call (414) 266-6556.