Children's Health of Orange County or CHOC is a pediatric healthcare system based in Orange County, California. Its flagship hospital, known by its acronym CHOC Hospital, is a pediatric acute care hospital located in Orange, California. The hospital has 334 beds[1] and is affiliated with the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.[2] The hospital provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to pediatric patients aged 0–21[3][4] throughout Orange County and the Southern California area. CHOC Hospital also features a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center,[5] the only of such in Orange County.
The regional pediatric healthcare network includes a 334-bed main hospital facility in the City of Orange, and a hospital-within-a-hospital in Mission Viejo.[6] CHOC also offers many primary and specialty care clinics, over 100 additional programs and services, and a pediatric residency program.
In 2013, CHOC opened the new $563 million Bill Holmes Tower,[8][9] adding seven-stories and 425,524 square feet.[10] The addition also included a new and advanced pediatric emergency department, operating rooms and related services, laboratory, pathology, imaging and radiology services.[11] The tower also features additional private rooms and enhanced family amenities.[12][13] The new surgery center in the addition was funded from a $30 million donation by the estate of Robert L. Tidwell and bears his name.[14]
In 2013 as a part of the new tower, CHOC opened the first pediatric only emergency department in Orange County with the opening of the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department on March 26, 2013.[15] The new addition was funded by a five million dollar donation by Julia and George Argyros. The 22,000 square foot emergency department also features an ACS verified level II pediatric trauma center[5] including 14 rapid evaluation and discharge exam rooms and three triage suites and features 31 treatment rooms.[16]
CHOC is consistently named one of the best children's hospitals in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.[20]
CHOC earned the Gold Level CAPE Award from the California Council of Excellence,[21] the only children's hospital in California to ever earn this distinction, and was awarded Magnet designation,[22] the highest honor bestowed to hospitals for nursing excellence.
Lobby of the Children's Hospital of Orange County.
In 2017, the ED was the recipient of the Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association for exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research.[23]
As of 2021-22, Children's Hospital of Orange County has placed nationally in 7 ranked pediatric specialties on U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is also ranks as #6 in California children's hospitals.
2021-22 U.S. News & World Report Rankings for CHOC[24]
