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A-BE-C’s Centers of Excellence

Finding experienced, specialized care is one of the most important steps for individuals and families affected by bladder exstrophy.

A-BE-C’s Centers of Excellence program recognizes healthcare institutions that meet the highest standards of care for bladder and cloacal exstrophy from initial treatment through long-term management.

What Is a Center of Excellence?

Centers of Excellence are health systems and surgical teams that have demonstrated a commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality care for individuals with bladder exstrophy. These centers focus not only on surgical outcomes, but also on:

  • long-term patient care
  • family support and education
  • ethical, evidence-based treatment
  • multidisciplinary collaboration

Why This Matters for Families

A diagnosis of bladder exstrophy can feel overwhelming, and many families are quickly faced with complex decisions about care. Access to experienced providers is critical. The Centers of Excellence designation helps families:

  • identify trusted, experienced care teams
  • feel confident in treatment decisions
  • access coordinated, long-term support

A-BE-C works to ensure that families are connected with providers who meet rigorous standards of care.

Our Standards and Criteria

Each designated Center of Excellence has demonstrated that it meets A-BE-C’s rigorous criteria across multiple areas, including:

  • comprehensive clinical care
  • surgical expertise
  • long-term follow-up and outcomes
  • patient and family support services
  • professional education and outreach

All Centers Criteria

All centers must meet the following criteria to maintain their designation and uphold established quality standards:

  • submit detailed documentation
  • undergo review by the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Council
  • renew their designation annually
  • complete a Quality Improvement and Evaluation process every five years

Current Centers of Excellence

The following institutions have met A-BE-C’s standards and are recognized as Centers of Excellence for bladder exstrophy care.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie | Bladder Exstrophy
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Ranked among the top hospitals in the nation for urology care

The Division of Urology at Lurie Children’s, ranked 7th in the nation by U.S.News & World Report, is the largest pediatric urology department in the region with more than 18,000 pediatric visits each year for both common and complex conditions. Our doctors can see your child for any urologic condition, from urinary tract infections and bedwetting to bladder reconstruction.

Boston Children's Hospital | Bladder Exstrophy
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Decades of experience in the care of patients with bladder exstrophy

The Boston Children’s Hospital Bladder Exstrophy Program specializes in the care of children with bladder exstrophy, a rare and complex birth defect in which the bladder is turned “inside out.” As an established and dedicated program within the Department of Urology, our team has decades of experience performing surgeries and managing the care of patients with bladder exstrophy. In addition to our Urology team, care of children with bladder exstrophy is supported by experts in Anesthesiology, Radiology, Maternal Fetal Care, and Orthopedics.

Children's Hospital LA | Bladder Exstrophy
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Ranked among the top hospitals in the nation for urology care

U.S. News and World Report ranked CHLA No. 1 in the Western U.S. and Top 5 Hospital in the Nation. It’s easy to see why. CHLA’s Exstrophy Center of Excellence cares for each patient with a multidisciplinary approach. We understand the importance of every member of the team in contributing to the outcome and well-being of our patients. Urology leads the treatment for our patients, and we have recruited experts from various specialties, including anesthesiology, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, pediatric general surgery, plastic surgery, gastroenterology, interventional radiology, occupational and physical therapy, and psychology. Our nurse practitioner and nurses are essential to coordinating care and performing urodynamics. We pride ourselves in not just providing medical and surgical care from CHLA experts, but also providing a community for our patients and families. Since the inception of the program, we have organized support groups, group activities such as Go-Cart races, international lectures, and hosted the annual A-BE-C conference in 2019. We have hosted fundraisers to support A-BE-C as well as our Center of Excellence. Because we understand how important mental health is to the well-being of our patients, we have a dedicated psychologist in the Division of Urology.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | Bladder Exstrophy
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World leader in pediatric urology

The Division of Urology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is a world leader in pediatric urology, offering specialized care for a wide range of urologic disorders in children and adolescents. Our team has special expertise in genito-urinary reconstruction, minimally invasive surgery, and the management of neurogenic bladder, kidney stones, disorders of sex development, and dysfunctional voiding.

Children's Wisconsin | Bladder Exstrophy
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Ranked among the top hospitals in the nation for urology care

Children’s Wisconsin is a Center of Excellence and member of MIBEC (Multi Institutional Bladder Exstrophy Consortium) for bladder Exstrophy and Epispadias. Our goal is to help your child achieve the best possible bladder health and urinary control and active lifestyle. We focus on meticulous reconstruction of the anatomic details of the urinary tract and pelvis to restore function.  We value the team-centered approach to exstrophy care by engaging a team of expert exstrophy surgeons in the surgical management and long term care of your child. We also value our highly skilled exstrophy support team of select orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, physical therapists, and nurses specialized in exstrophy care.

Cincinnati Children's | Bladder Exstrophy
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Comprehensive Care for Urological Problems

The pediatric urology team at Cincinnati Children’s provides comprehensive, high-quality care for children who have conditions of the urological tract. Our experienced, highly trained physicians and nurse practitioners treat everything from bedwetting to kidney stones to birth defects that require reconstructive surgery. Appointments are available at our Burnet Campus, and throughout the community at several neighborhood locations.

Many patients travel from across the country and around the world to see our pediatric urologists, who have a strong reputation for providing compassionate, expert care. The Cincinnati Children’s urology program is ranked No. 4 in the 2019-20 list of Best Children’s Hospitals published by U.S. News & World Report.

Johns Hopkins | Bladder Exstrophy
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Among the top centers in the nation for primary and reoperative surgery

The Division of Pediatric Urology at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center is among the top centers in the nation for primary and reoperative surgery of bladder exstrophy, one of the most severe congenital birth defects. We provide comprehensive and compassionate care to diagnose and treat all childhood urological problems in patients around the world.

OKC Kids Urology | Bladder Exstrophy
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Oklahoma City’s Premier Pediatric Urology Clinic

OKC Kids Urology, under the direction of Dr. Bradley Kropp, is pleased to have established an exclusive collaboration with the INTEGRIS Children’s Hospital at Baptist Medical Center to serve and treat all age groups in the BE community. By combining the strengths of a successful private practice and a children’s hospital, OKC Kids Urology is able to provide patients and their families with high level, personalized care in a convenient and easily accessible office setting combined with the outstanding surgical and in-patient resources of INTEGRIS Children’s Hospital. The relationship between OKC Kids Urology and INTEGRIS Children’s is one of support and holistic resources so that the patients receive exceptional care.

Seattle' Children's | Bladder Exstrophy
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Highest-ranked program on the West Coast

Our program is a world leader in the treatment of complex genital conditions and bladder malformations. At Seattle Children’s, we have excellent results caring for babies, children and teens with conditions that affect their urinary tract or genitals. We treat more patients with hypospadias than any other center in the region. We are the region’s only referral center for patients born with bladder exstrophy.

With a top-10 national ranking by U.S. News & World Report for 2020-21, our Urology Program is the highest-ranked program on the West Coast.

Riley Children's Health | Bladder Exstrophy
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Access to the most advanced expertise for treating bladder exstrophy.

Physicians and researchers at Riley at IU Health and the Indiana University School of Medicine are part of an alliance that joins experts at four other children’s hospitals in the Midwest to study bladder exstrophy and find better treatments. Because of its rarity and the complexity of the procedures used to treat it, bladder exstrophy benefits from the combined knowledge researchers gain when they collaborate and share discoveries.

International Centers of Excellence

Civil Hospital Amdavad | Bladder Exstrophy
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World leader in pediatric urology

Ahmedabad Civil Hospital is a public hospital located in Ahmedabad, India, with facilities for specialised diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative patient care. The hospital campus spans 110 acres (45 ha) of land and houses the Gujarat Medical Council and Gujarat Nursing Council. It is affiliated to B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad.It is one of the largest hospitals in Asia with most specialities under one roof .

Fundacio Puigvert | Bladder Exstrophy
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Health Leaders, People Experts

We are a monographic university hospital specializing exclusively in urology, nephrology, andrology, reproductive medicine and clinical psychology.
Since 1961, we have worked with a clear vocation of public service and non-profit, combining clinical excellence with a commitment to research, teaching and innovation.
We are located in the annex to the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, in Barcelona, ​​from where we treat patients from all over Catalonia, Spain and internationally, offering comprehensive, humane and personalized care.

SickKids | Bladder Exstrophy
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World leader in Paediatric Urology care.

We manage medical and surgical care of the entire urological and genital systems for both boys and girls from infancy to adolescence. Paediatric Urologists specialize in surgical problems of the kidneys, the bladder and the genitalia.
We strive to provide state of the art management for all urogenital conditions, taking into account the behavioural and psychosocial aspects of each child and each problem. This approach acknowledges the often sensitive and personal aspects of each patient and his/her problem, allowing for an individualized approach using patient and family based care. 
Working together with you, our patients and families, we in Paediatric Urology at SickKids strive to give your child the normal, happy and healthy life they deserve.

Interested in Becoming a Center of Excellence?

Healthcare institutions play a critical role in improving outcomes and access to care for individuals with bladder exstrophy.

By becoming a designated Center of Excellence, your institution helps families find trusted, specialized care more quickly and confidently.

Why Apply?

  • Increase visibility among patients and families
  • Demonstrate commitment to high-quality care
  • Join a network of leading providers
  • Contribute to improved global standards of care

Eligibility and Criteria

The Center of Excellence designation is awarded to institutions that demonstrate excellence in the care of bladder and cloacal exstrophy by meeting 10 major criteria established by A-BE-C.
View Criteria

Application Process

Designation is determined through a review and consensus by the A-BE-C Medical Advisory Council. Designation is valid for five years, with annual renewal and a required Quality Improvement and Evaluation process.

The process includes:

  1. Completing and submitting an application with supporting documentation
  2. Payment of an annual administrative fee of $2,000 USD
Download Application

Statement From A-BE-C's Medical Advisory Committee

Timely and expert patient and family centered clinical care is critical for children with bladder exstrophy and epispadias. There are several options for pursuing care. Surgical approaches and options may vary among different children’s hospitals in the United States. 

To guide families affected by bladder exstrophy and to ensure that all patients receive honest, evidence-based, and ethical care from pediatric urologists and surgical teams, we offer these guidelines and best practices.

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