Quality and Outcomes Reports - Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery

Average length of stay by diagnosis

Why we measure it - We realize the importance of sending a child home from the hospital as soon as it is safe to do so. The average time a child is in the hospital depends on many factors including the seriousness of the illness or injury. Medical therapies can have a significant impact on recovery and length of hospital stay.

What this means - Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is able to provide the highest quality of care as demonstrated by our survival rates while keeping our average length of stay comparable to the national average.

About the data - This graph reflects the average number of days a child stays in the hospital before going home, depending on the diagnosis, compared to Pediatric Hospital Information System peers. PHIS data represent other leading free-standing pediatric hospitals.

Related dimensions of care:

What we're doing to provide the best care:

• Through the Fetal Concerns Program, we offer prenatal counseling to parents whose unborn baby is diagnosed with problems that may require surgery. This includes meetings with a perinatologist, a neonatologist and a pediatric surgeon. A tour of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit also is offered.
• Mothers are able to deliver at the Froedtert & Medical College Birth Center, which is located inside Children's Hospital. One of our neonatology specialists attends the delivery. Our pediatric surgeons always are available and see the baby immediately upon arrival at the NICU. Research shows outcomes improve when the delivery room and operating room are close together. This also offers families the convenience of having mother and baby hospitalized near one another.
• We offer the Family Accommodations Program to help make travel arrangements and coordinate appointments for families traveling to our center from a long distance.
• After surgery, the baby is cared for daily by a neonatologist and pediatric surgeon. Other medical specialists such as nutritionists and physical/occupational therapists also provide care.
• After being discharged from the hospital, the baby is followed closely in the Surgery Clinic to make sure growth and development continue without problems.

Patients and families:

• Be an advocate for your child. Participate in daily bedside clinical discussions, and provide any information about your child that may be helpful to staff.
• Follow medical instructions fully and carefully before and after surgery.
• Ask questions if you don't understand the plan of care or if you are not sure how to care for your child at home.

Referring physicians:

• Fill out and fax a referral form prior to sending the patient to Children's Hospital for outpatient ancillary services or a specialty clinic visit. 
• Forward any pertinent patient documentation, including test results, to the specialty physician's office prior to the patient's visit. 
• 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
  • Pediatric Rounds
  • Webcasts
• Pocket Directory

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