Norton Children's Hospital


Norton Children's Hospital, stylized as Norton Children's formerly Kosair Children's Hospital, is a pediatric acute care children's hospital located in Louisville, Kentucky. The hospital has 279 pediatric beds and is affiliated with the University of Louisville School of Medicine. The hospital provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to infants, children, teens, and young adults 0-21 throughout Kentucky and the surrounding states. Established in 1892 as Children's Free Hospital, it is part of Norton Healthcare. The hospital sometimes also treats older adults that require pediatric care. Norton Children's Hospital also features a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, 1 of 2 in the state.
In 2016, actress Jennifer Lawrence, a Louisville native, donated $2 million to the Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville to set up a cardiac intensive care unit named after her foundation.

History

After a devastating tornado hit Louisville, activists decided to create a place where kids could receive specialized care. The hospital first incorporated in 1890 as Children’s Free Hospital. In 1892, the Children’s Free Hospital officially opened, becoming the #10 children’s hospital to open in the United States. In 1910 a new $60,000, 75-bed hospital was opened to take the place of the original building. In 1930, Children’s Free Hospital affiliated with the University of Louisville School of Medicine. In 1946, Children’s Free Hospital renamed their hospital to Children's Hospital. In 1986 the modern day hospital opened at current location on East Chestnut Street. In 1988 the regions first pediatric trauma center opened in the hospital. In 2016 The Kosair Children’s Hospital rebranded as Norton Children's Hospital.

Awards

In 2014 Norton Children's Hospital ranked among the top 50 children's hospitals in the country and nationally ranked in six categories including #21 in cancer care, #24 in orthopedics, #24 in pulmonology, #29 in neurology and neurosurgery, #31 in urology, #40 in cardiology and heart surgery, and #51 in nephrology.
In 2020 Norton Children's Hospital ranked nationally in 3 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report. The ranked specialties were #42 in neonatalogy, #49 in diabetes and endocrinology, and #35 in urology. The hospital has the highest ratings of any children's hospital in Kentucky.