Eight hospitals in the six-state Far Western U.S. were ranked among the 50 best hospitals in the nation for pediatric cancer care in the latest (2023-24) survey of American hospitals conducted by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR).  This included one hospital ranked among the five best pediatric cancer hospitals in the country, while three others were ranked among the top twenty.  While many hospitals in the region offer pediatric cancer care, the eight hospitals recognized in the USNWR nationwide survey stand out as the top-ranked pediatric cancer hospitals in the Far Western U.S.

Top Ranked Pediatric Cancer Hospitals in the Far Western U.S.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles

National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #3

(See ranking details)

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital

Location: San Francisco
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #12

(See ranking details)

Seattle Children's Hospital

Location: Seattle
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #13

(See ranking details)

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford

Location: Palo Alto, CA
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking: #20

(See ranking details)

Rady Children's Hospital

Location: San Diego
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #21

(See ranking details)

CHOC Children's Hospital

Location: Orange, CA
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #33

(See ranking details)

UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital

Location: Los Angeles
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #37

(See ranking details)

Doernbecher Children's Hospital

Location: Portland, OR
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #43

(See ranking details)

To further examine the metrics used to rate pediatric cancer care hospitals in the 23-24 USNWR survey, or to find the pediatric cancer rating of other Far Western region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Pediatric Cancer Care

The most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put licensed practical nurse (LPN) employment at more than 632,000 as of May 2022.  Also known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in some parts of the country, the LPN profession is one of the biggest healthcare occupations in the United States.  As of May 2022, nearly 29,500 LPNs were working in the six-state New England region. The region was home to four states that ranked among the ten best states in the nation for LPN annual mean wage levels, making the New England region one of the best for licensed practical nurse pay. A closer examination of May 2022 BLS statistical data reveals the following about licensed practical nurse pay in New England:

Licensed Practical Nurse Pay in New England

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CT	8,800	$62,620	9th
MA	15,630	$68,170	3rd
ME	930	$55,830	22nd
NH	2,110	$63,550	8th
RI	940	$66,770	4th
VT	1,060	$57,150	20th
U.S.	632,020	$55,860	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 11, 2023

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) most recent occupational statistical data, there were almost 135,000 occupational therapists (OTs) employed in the United States as of May 2022.  More than 6,100 occupational therapists were employed at that time in the five-state Rocky Mountain region of the country.  BLS data revealed that nearly 2/3rds of occupational therapists in the Rocky Mountain region lived in Colorado, which ranked as a top ten state in the nation for OT annual mean wages.  Elsewhere in the region, OTs did not fare as well financially as no other Rocky Mountain state recorded an OT annual mean wage level that topped the national average for the profession.  Moreover, three states in the region ranked among the bottom third of states for occupational therapist annual mean wage levels.  A closer look at the BLS data reveals the following about occupational therapist pay in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. as of May 2022:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Rocky Mountain Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CO	3,940	$97,720	6th
ID	600	$84,640	39th
MT	470	$84,680	37th
UT	820	$89,740	24th
WY	300	$84,650	38th
U.S.	134,980	$92,800	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 11, 2023

In the current (2023-24) survey of American hospitals conducted by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR), eleven hospitals from the five-state Great Lakes region were rated among the 50 best hospitals in the U.S. for pediatric cancer care.  This included two hospitals in the region that ranked among the ten best nationally for pediatric cancer care, while two more ranked in the top twenty in the nation.  While many hospitals in the region offer pediatric cancer treatment, the eleven hospitals that earned recognition in the USNWR national survey stand apart as the top-ranked pediatric cancer hospitals in the Great Lakes region.

Top-Ranked Pediatric Cancer Hospitals in the Great Lakes Region

Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Location: Cincinnati, OH

National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #1
see ranking details

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Location: Columbus, OH
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #9

see ranking details

Mott Children's Hospital | Michigan Medicine

Location: Ann Arbor, MI
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #16

see ranking details

Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Location: Chicago
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #17

see ranking details

Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital

Location: Cleveland
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #23

see ranking details

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health

Location: Indianapolis, IN
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #24

see ranking details

Children's Wisconsin Hospital

Location: Milwaukee, WI
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #28

see ranking details

Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital

Location: Cleveland
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #29

see ranking details

Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital 

Location:  Grand Rapids, MI

National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #40

see ranking details

Children's Hospital of Michigan

Location: Detroit, MI
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #47

see ranking details

American Family Children's Hospital

Location: Madison, WI
National Pediatric Cancer Care Ranking:  #49

see ranking details

For further information on the metrics used to rate pediatric cancer care hospitals in the 23-24 USNWR survey, or to find the pediatric cancer care rating of other Great Lakes region hospitals, visit Best Hospitals for Pediatric Cancer Care

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released earlier this year indicated that nearly 363,900 dental assistants were employed in the United States as of May 2022.  At that time, roughly 78,300 dental assistants were working in the six-state Far West region of the country.  Although dental assistant annual mean wage levels were poor in Hawaii and Nevada, BLS data revealed the Far West U.S. to be a modestly good one for dental assistant pay.  Over 93% of the region's dental assistants lived in a state where the annual mean wage level for dental assistants was above the national average.  Moreover, this included three states that ranked among the ten best states in the nation for dental assistant annual mean wages.  A closer review of May 2022 BLS data reveals the following about dental assistant pay in the Far West U.S.:

Dental Assistant Pay in the Far West U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	1,080	$52,430	4th
CA	55,360	$48,990	11th
HI	1,620	$39,590	42nd
NV	3,720	$41,240	35th
OR	5,200	$51,990	6th
WA	11,290	$50,430	9th
U.S.	363,880	$44,710	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 11, 2023

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data published earlier this year put licensed practical nurse (LPN) employment at more than 632,000 as of May 2022.  Also known as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in some areas of the country, licensed practical nurses make up one of the biggest healthcare occupations in the U.S.  As of May 2022, nearly 82,200 LPNs were working in the four-state Southwestern region of the country. The Southwestern U.S. is a relatively weak one for licensed practical nurse pay, with the majority of LPNs living in states where the annual mean wage for the profession was below the national average. Further examination of May 2022 BLS data reveals the following about licensed practical nurse pay in the Southwest:

Licensed Practical Nurse Pay in the Southwest

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	6,280	$61,920	12th
NM	1,490	$59,400	15th
OK	12,170	$48,090	44th
TX	62,240	$52,850	32nd
U.S.	632,020	$55,860	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 11, 2023