Best hospital for Children in New Orleans (Children's, Oschner, Tulane...??) (Jefferson: university, restaurant)

[bfrogm]

Hi, I'm new to New Orleans and wondering where the best hospital for kids is? I know there's Children's, Oschner, Tulane Medical... are there any others?

Should I just go to the closest one or is someplace better?

Any ideas on the size of these places or the reputation of the doctors there?

Thanks in advance!!!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

For what kind of problem? Is there a chronic condition? Are you just worrying for some possible future event?

[bfrogm]

for a child who is prone to be sick a lot and potential hospitilization. why, do the different hospitals have different areas of strength?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Not sure if this is currently valid: I think of Children's more as a hospital for the chronically ill or genetic problems. Both Tulane and Ochsner have pediatric emergency rooms. Really, your doctor will decide which hospital you use as not all have privileges at all hosp. Also, they are pretty spread out in the city, or driving distance might be an issue.

[bfrogm]

thanks for the advice. i'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on the hospitals.

[Drouzin]

My kid went to three different hospitals. We used Children's when there were some genetic concerns our pediatrician sent us there. We used Charity when he had a traumatic injury. When Charity was done with what they could do he was sent to East Jefferson Hospital because the world class hand surgeon practiced out of there. For everything else we went to Baptist/Memorial, (now part of the Oschner family and not really worth considering at this point because of the whole Katrina thing).

I had no complaints with any of the hospitals, but do want want to say that those folks at Charity were the most awesome people ever. They saved that kid's hand when no one thought it could be saved. The paramedics were amazed when they ran into us at a restaurant and one of them counted out five fingers.

Like Southern said, the best thing you can do is to take your time finding a good pediatrician; the kind that the nurses take their kids to see. I think that once you find the right doctor he'll guide you to the hospital he practices in and imho he wouldn't steer you wrong. For the most part the rule of thumb is if it's a heavy trauma head over to University/Charity and for the other stuff head to the hospital that your pediatrician recommends.