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Shands Jacksonville Named a Best Regional Hospital

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Mary Kelli Palka
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Shands Jacksonville Medical Center was named one of the best regional hospitals in the Jacksonville metropolitan area, as rated by U.S. News & World Report.

Shands Jacksonville was ranked No. 2 of the 17 hospitals in the Jacksonville area and No. 11 in Florida in the magazine's 2012-13 rankings. In addition, 33 University of Florida physicians who practice at the hospital and other UF&Shands Jacksonville locations across the region were listed as U.S. News Top Doctors.

Shands Jacksonville had the greatest number of high-performing adult medical specialties in the Jacksonville area.

"Recognition such as this only comes when an organization is fully committed to providing the highest quality care to its patients," said Shands Jacksonville President and CEO Jim Burkhart. "I am proud of our Shands Jacksonville staff and University of Florida physicians for their hard work and dedication to deliver that level of care on a daily basis."

In compiling its rankings, U.S. News looked at 16 specialties. For 12 of those specialties, the magazine gave scores based on reputation, patient survival, patient safety and care-related factors including nursing and patient services.

A hospital had to be nationally ranked or considered high performing by U.S. News in at least one specialty to be considered a best hospital.

"Though newly arrived in Florida, it is clear to me our University of Florida doctors are among the best. It is really great to learn that U.S. News agrees. In fact, with our Shands Jacksonville staff we treat a full range of patients including some of the most complex in the Southeast," said Daniel Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of health affairs and dean of the UF College of Medicine–Jacksonville. "Our physicians are internationally respected leaders and these accolades are truly well-deserved."

Shands Jacksonville's 12 high-performing specialties are:

Last year, Shands Jacksonville had five medical specialties listed as high-performing.

To be listed as high-performing in those 12 specialties this year, Shands Jacksonville had to be in the top 25 percent of all of the hospitals that qualified for possible national ranking, according to U.S. News. The rankings also considered patient satisfaction.

About 68 percent of patients rated the hospital at the highest or very high level, that's above the 63 percent state average and 67 percent national average.

Also, 81 percent of patients said doctors were always courteous and respectful, listened carefully and explained things clearly. That is also better than the state and national average.

U.S. News first started ranking hospitals in 1990 to provide information for patients with challenging conditions as they choose hospitals. The latest U.S. News rankings were announced last week. It ranked 732 hospitals nationwide, narrowed from almost 4,800 hospitals.

The following UF College of Medicine–Jacksonville faculty physicians were listed as U.S. News Top Doctor:

* Estimated by Castle Connolly, which lists top doctors, as among the top 1 percent in the nation in his or her specialty

Featured Faculty

Ziad T. Awad, MD, F.A.C.S.

Ziad T. Awad, MD, F.A.C.S.

Professor
Associate Chair, Clinical Operations; Chief, Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Surgical Oncology; Medical Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery Program; Program Director, Advanced GI Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship

Guy I. Benrubi, MD, FACOG

Guy I. Benrubi, MD, FACOG

Professor - Robert J. Thompson, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Emeritus Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Linda R. Edwards, MD

Linda R. Edwards, MD

Associate Professor
Dean, College of Medicine - Jacksonville

Charles W. Heilig, MD

Charles W. Heilig, MD

Professor
Chief, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension; Program Director, Nephrology Fellowship

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD, FACOG

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD, FACOG

Professor
Associate Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Medical Director, UF Health Women's Specialists - Emerson

Shahla Masood, MD

Shahla Masood, MD

Professor
Chair, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Program Director, Breast Pathology Fellowship; Medical Director, Breast Health Center; Program Director, Cytopathology Fellowship; Director of Research; Interim Director of Cancer Programs

James S. Scolapio, MD

James S. Scolapio, MD

Professor
Associate Chair, Department of Medicine

Karl Smith, MD, FACOG

Karl Smith, MD, FACOG

Courtesy Assistant Professor