Choosing the Best Children's Hospital: Why Rankings Matter (with Ben Harder)
Release Date: 10/07/2025
3 Proven Strategies for Parents Navigating Pediatric Healthcare in 2025
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Feeling alone after your child's diagnosis? Discover three powerful lessons that have changed how families find hope, support, and confidence while navigating pediatric healthcare. In this solo episode, child life specialist Katie Taylor distills eight years of conversations with hundreds of families into three essential takeaways every parent needs when thrust into the pediatric healthcare world. If you're overwhelmed by medical decisions, uncertain about switching providers, or searching for ways to support your child—and yourself—during hospital life, this episode offers tangible steps...
info_outline
A Father's Journey Through Loss, Healing, and the Birth of a Rainbow Baby: Jeff's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
In this profoundly moving and honest conversation, we sit down with Jeff Loving, a NICU dad, husband, and now an author, who shares the intimate and often unspoken grief experienced by fathers after pregnancy loss. Jeff walks us through the heartbreaking loss of his two sons, Davian and Jadon, the struggle to find empathy and appropriate medical care, and how these experiences ultimately led him and his wife, Cassie, to become fierce advocates for their future family. This episode is a raw look at marriage under immense stress, the importance of empathetic medical staff, and the redemptive joy...
info_outline
Understanding Homocystinuria (HCU): How one Mother Uncovered her Son’s Diagnosis
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Melanie, mom to 12-year-old Masen, shares the unexpected path to her son’s diagnosis with Homocystinuria (HCU) after a routine eye exam revealed something “off.” What followed was months of uncertainty, a rare diagnosis few providers had even heard of, a crash course in low-protein diets and metabolic formulas, and two back-to-back eye surgeries to prevent further damage. With gentleness, honesty, and deep advocacy, Melanie describes how they adjusted as a family, how Masen built resilience, and how finding community changed everything. A story of early detection, parent intuition, and...
info_outline
Autism, Advocacy and the Power of a Medical ID Bracelet
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Tara Cohen opens up about her son Will’s autism diagnosis and how it transformed her family and career. From navigating meltdowns to discovering AAC as a communication lifeline, Tara shares her honest reflections on parenting, resilience, and hope. What began as a search for a medical ID bracelet led to a career at —where she now helps other families feel safe and supported. This heartfelt episode reminds caregivers that advocacy grows from love and that even small acts of compassion can make a life-changing difference. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 03:10 – Early diagnosis...
info_outline
When Your Baby is Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes: Marlee's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
“My baby went from fussy to lifeless in hours—by the time we reached the PICU, they said he might have had six hours to live.” In this episode, TikTok Influencer and Medical Mom , a pediatric speech-language pathologist turned full-time mom, shares the whirlwind diagnosis of her 12-month-old son Bain with Type 1 diabetes and severe DKA, the traumatic hospital stay, and the everyday advocacy that followed. Raw, practical, and deeply hopeful. Why this episode matters Emotional clarity: what a Type 1 diagnosis really feels like in infancy Practical advocacy: scripts, choices, and...
info_outline
Brain Surgery for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: Managing Infantile Spasms
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Join us for an incredibly candid and informative conversation with Audrey Vernick, a passionate advocate and the Director of Patient and Family Advocacy for the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance. Audrey shares the powerful 21-year journey of her son, Bennett, who suffered a stroke in utero and was later diagnosed with the catastrophic epilepsy known as Infantile Spasms. Audrey recounts the emotional process from the difficult labor and early concerns dismissed as normal reflexes, to the terrifying moment she saw his MRI and realized half of his brain was black due to a massive stroke. This...
info_outline
Speech Therapy at Home: Expert Tips to Help Your Child Communicate
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"The excitement that the kids feel when they are seeing you... and they know today's session with Ms. Luba and they can't wait to see you." - Luba Kaplan When a child enters the medical system, parents often meet many specialists beyond doctors and nurses, including Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP). These professionals are vital members of the healthcare team, doing more than just helping with speech. SLPs, as Luba Kaplan explains, also explains how they look at every area of the child's development to ensure children are being fully supported. In this episode, we introduce Luba Kaplan, a...
info_outline
Type 1 Diabetes: Finding Community and Humor After Diagnosis
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
When Stacey’s toddler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, her family’s world turned upside down. In this episode, she shares the early warning signs, the struggle of those first two weeks of injections, and how humor and community turned fear into resilience. Parents will gain hope, advocacy tips, and coping strategies for managing a chronic illness diagnosis. What You’ll Hear How Stacey recognized the 4 Ts of diabetes: Thirsty, Tired, Thinner, Toilet The reality of hospitalization, finger sticks, and injections with a toddler Coping strategies: medical play, humor, and...
info_outline
NICU Stay, Down Syndrome, and Infant Loss: A Grief Journey
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
In this incredibly personal and moving episode, we sit down with Teejay and Jon, the authors of the gentle children's book , to share the full, raw story of their daughter, Nadiya. Their journey began with an unexpected connection—a transatlantic online romance between Teejay in Australia and Jon in Canada—that quickly turned into a marriage grounded in a shared life and purpose. With Teejay's extensive background in early childhood development and their experience fostering a young man with Down syndrome, they felt prepared when Nadiya was diagnosed with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) early...
info_outline
Choosing the Best Children's Hospital: Why Rankings Matter (with Ben Harder)
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Is the "best" hospital just about technology and surgical success? Ben Harder, the journalist who oversees the methodology and data for the U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals Rankings (2025), joins Katie to break down what truly defines quality in pediatric care. Ben shares his deeply personal family story—a tragedy 50 years in the past that drives his commitment to making data-driven information accessible today. This episode is a crucial guide for parents, explaining the three core pillars of the rankings: structure/resources, processes of care, and patient outcomes. We dive into why...
info_outlineIs the "best" hospital just about technology and surgical success? Ben Harder, the journalist who oversees the methodology and data for the U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals Rankings (2025), joins Katie to break down what truly defines quality in pediatric care.
Ben shares his deeply personal family story—a tragedy 50 years in the past that drives his commitment to making data-driven information accessible today. This episode is a crucial guide for parents, explaining the three core pillars of the rankings: structure/resources, processes of care, and patient outcomes.
We dive into why essential human-focused services like Child Life Specialists, chaplains, and family advisory boards are included in the scorecard and how they influence the rankings. Ben illuminates the challenge faced by these vital "cost centers" in a revenue-driven healthcare system, and offers a powerful message: parents are the strongest possible advocates for their children, and they should use every resource available—including the U.S. News data—to make informed, collaborative choices for their child’s care team.
Guest Links
-
U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals Rankings: All data is freely available for families to research hospitals by region and specialty.
Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways
-
The Personal Motivation: Ben shares the heartbreaking story of his cousin, whose permanent brain injury after a heart surgery complication 50 years ago lacked the complete care team needed to ensure a good outcome—a void the U.S. News data is designed to fill today.
-
The Three Pillars of Ranking: US News analyzes over 1,000 data points grouped into: 1) Resources/Structure (nurses, expertise, technology, child life services), 2) Processes of Care (following best practices, infection control), and 3) Outcomes (survival, length of stay, quality of life).
-
The Honor Roll: The 2025 Honor Roll features the top 10 hospitals recognized for high performance across multiple specialties, including: Boston Children's Hospital, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Cincinnati Children's, Texas Children's Hospital, and others.
-
A Piece of the Puzzle: The rankings are one resource to use alongside insurance coverage, geographic location, and most importantly, consulting your child's doctors and trusting your parental intuition.
-
The Value of Human Support: Services like Child Life Specialists, support groups, and family advisory boards are included in the structural data points, serving as a motivator for hospitals to invest in comprehensive, family-centered care.
-
Advocacy is Essential: Ben gives parents permission to advocate relentlessly, reminding them they know their child best. Collaborating with—not simply questioning—the care team can be life-saving.
Chapters:
| Timestamp | Topic |
| 0:00 | Ben Harder’s Personal Connection to Hospital Rankings |
| 1:03 | The Official Launch of the U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals 2025 |
| 3:20 | US News Honor Roll: The Top 10 Children's Hospitals |
| 4:26 | FREE COURSE Ad: Shots, Blood Draws & Comfort Positioning |
| 5:35 | Meet Ben Harder: Journalist, Father, and Best Hospitals Lead |
| 7:59 | The 3 Pillars of US News Ranking Methodology (1000+ Data Points) |
| 11:37 | The Role of Expert Work Groups in Defining Data |
| 13:58 | The Future of Family Expertise in Shaping Rankings |
| 16:59 | How Families Should Use the U.S. News Rankings |
| 21:09 | Why Child Life Services and Support Resources Matter in Rankings |
| 25:12 | Why Support Services are Overlooked: Revenue vs. Cost Centers |
| 27:54 | Ben Harder's Personal Story: The Tragic Need for Comprehensive Care |
| 31:00 | The Efficacy and Impact of Child Life Specialists |
| 34:36 | What Families Should Expect and Ask For: Advocacy Permission |
| 38:23 | Where to Find the U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals Rankings |
| 38:58 | Disclaimer |
Resources for You
1. Unlock Two FREE Courses (Value $250+)
We want to equip you to better support your child during medical experiences! Get our popular courses "How to Prepare, Support, and Respond to Your Child During Shots, Blood Draws, and Vaccines" AND "How to Use Comfort Positioning in Pediatrics" completely free.
How to Get It:
-
Leave a written review for the Child Life On Call podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
-
Take a quick screenshot of your submitted review.
-
Email the screenshot to: podcast@childlifeoncall.com
2. Connect with Child Life On Call
-
Website: ChildLifeOnCall.com
-
Instagram: @ChildLifeOnCall
Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only. The host and guests are not licensed therapists or medical doctors. Always consult with your child’s qualified medical professional for advice specific to your family’s situation.