Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto has been rated as the 10th best children's hospital in the country and the top such hospital in California by U.S. News & World Report magazine.

"Our entire staff is thrilled by this honor," said Christopher Dawes, president and CEO of the hospital.

Dawes noted that in past years children's hospitals were rated by the magazine on reputation alone, but statistics on performance and quality of care were considered this year.

"We take on some of the most challenging cases, both from around the corner and around the world," Dawes said.

The hospital has a neo-natal intensive care unit serving much of the region, while other patients come from around the state or from further away for specific surgical and other treatment.

More than 80 percent of the hospital's pediatric patients and more than 70 percent of the hospital's obstetric patients are from the local area.

Packard Hospital, which was built in 1991 and has 264 in-patient beds, is affiliated with the Stanford University School of Medicine.

-- Don Kazak