U.S. News

The U.S. News & World Report 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals list ranked Children’s Wisconsin No. 1 in Wisconsin and among the best in the nation in five specialties. Children’s Wisconsin is the only health system in Wisconsin with the depth of services to achieve this level of recognition in U.S. News & World Report for pediatric specialty care.

American College of Surgeons Surgical Quality Partner

As an American College of Surgeons (ACS) Surgical Quality Partner, Children’s Wisconsin is committed to the highest standards of surgical care. This designation reflects our proven record of adhering to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality — to minimize complications, improve outcomes and save lives.

Children’s Wisconsin is also an ACS-verified Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center. This is the highest level of distinction for hospitals that perform complex surgical procedures in newborns, children and teens. Children’s Wisconsin is the highest-rated pediatric surgical center in Wisconsin.

Pathology

The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) awarded accreditation to the Pathology Program at Children’s Wisconsin. This accreditation is based on results of a recent on-site inspection conducted by CAP inspectors, which included practicing pathology and laboratory medicine professionals. Programs are judged on the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures, as well as staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record and overall management.

Radiology/Imaging

In late 2024, the Radiology Program at Children’s Wisconsin was designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. This designation means that Children’s Wisconsin demonstrates the infrastructure, policies and procedures required to assure consistently high-quality care and service.

The Radiology Program at Children’s Wisconsin was first designated in 2015, and also successfully renewed this designation in 2018 and 2021.

Magnet

In 2025, Children’s Wisconsin earned the highly coveted Magnet Recognition Program status for the fifth consecutive time from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet designation is granted every four years to those organizations that demonstrate sustained excellence in nursing care.

What makes this fifth Magnet designation especially exciting is that it validates the quality and standards of care in all areas where nursing is practiced at Children’s Wisconsin: our Milwaukee and Fox Valley hospitals, specialty and primary care clinics and community and school-based nursing environments.

Children’s Wisconsin now joins the ranks of an elite group of health systems across the globe.  Fewer than 3% of health systems worldwide have received Magnet designation, with just 80 organizations — less than .5% — achieving this honor five times.

Magnet status is the highest level of formal recognition for nursing excellence and is considered the gold standard for hospitals. Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee was one of the first pediatric hospitals to achieve this status when it first achieved Magnet designation in 2004.