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The Madera-based facility was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best children’s hospitals in the magazine’s new 2016-17 rankings.

“This prestigious first for Valley Children’s reflects the innovative, compassionate, family-centered care we deliver 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and across all of our other pediatric subspecialties,” said Valley Children’s President and CEO Todd Suntrapak.

The magazine’s rankings, said Editor Avery Comarow, “highlight pediatric centers that offer exceptional care for the kids who need the most help. Day in and day out [Valley Children’s] delivers state-of-the-art medical care.”

Suntrapak credited “the phenomenal team we have here. Our teams never stop collaborating to achieve our goal of providing high-quality safe patient care,” he added. “We do it to improve a child’s life and to fulfill a sacred trust given to us by each family that brings their child to us.”

Valley Children’s 88-bed neonatal intensive care unit is the region’s only NICU certified by the state of California as a Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit — the highest NICU level possible. As the region’s only Level IV NICU, the facility is equipped to provide expert care for the tiniest and most critically ill babies.

U.S. News & World Report’s rankings are based on clinical data as well as an annual survey of pediatric specialists.

The magazine’s annual list is influential and helps parents determine where to get the best medical care for their children.

“Our NICU outcomes aren’t just good — they’re phenomenal,” said Dr. Karen Dahl, Valley Children’s vice president of quality and patient safety.

“We have achieved some of the best survival and lowest complication rates in the nation,” Dahl added. “It takes diligence, experience and the right people and tools to achieve amazing results like this.”