A children's hospital is a place for intensive care and medical treatment of children, with facilities for long-term stays. Age limits may vary, but usually include teenagers, and often allow for continuing care of long-term childhood illnesses into adulthood. These hospitals generally provide a high level of psychosocial care to meet the special needs of very young patients.

The patient group is centered on children, commonly including teenagers. Continuing treatment of childhood illnesses can extend into adult life.

The definition does not impose one universal age cutoff. Facilities for extended stays distinguish the hospital from a pediatric outpatient office.