University of Florida Health Shands Hospital has been recognized among the nation's best hospitals in five adult medical specialties, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2013-14 Best Hospitals rankings released this morning (July 16).
Overall, UF Health Shands Hospital was recognized as one of the best hospitals in North Florida and in the state as a whole.
The hospital's highest national ranking came in urology, which rose two places to 18th nationally. UF Health Shands Hospital also had the state's highest ranking in urology as well as in neurology and neurosurgery, which was 37th nationally.
Other specialty programs that received national recognition include: pulmonology (49th), nephrology (34th), and cardiology and heart surgery (47th).
In addition to UF Health Shands Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville also was recognized as one of the best hospitals in North Florida.
"The U.S. News rankings reflect the fact that UF Health is an academic health center in which the extraordinary quality of care we provide attracts outstanding faculty with nationally recognized expertise," said David S. Guzick, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president for health affairs and president of UF Health. "In turn, faculty contribute new knowledge to their fields that improves patient care even more. It's a virtuous circle that grows to incorporate not only faculty but students, residents, fellows and our dedicated staff."
In addition to being ranked among the nation's top 50 hospitals in five specialties, UF Health Shands Hospital also was listed as "high-performing" in seven additional specialties, including: cancer; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; gynecology; and orthopedics.
UF Health Jacksonville was listed as high-performing in 11 specialties, including: cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; gynecology; nephrology; neurology and neurosurgery; pulmonology; and urology.
"At UF Health, our faculty and staff members are focused on improving quality of care and the patient experience, as well as making discoveries that could lead to breakthroughs in treatment. This honor is another indication that we are meeting these goals," said Michael L. Good, M.D., dean of the UF College of Medicine.
Daniel R. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Medicine-Jacksonville added, "The interactions between our campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville also help our patients access world-class experts and clinical resources while it also provides our faculty with more research opportunities to make breakthroughs that enhance health and save lives."
It was the fourth year in a row that urology was UF Health Shands Hospital's highest-ranked adult medicine program.
"This distinction from U.S. News honors the dedication of our outstanding faculty and staff, who deliver individualized, high-quality and safe urologic care to our patients every day," said Johannes Vieweg, M.D., chairman of the UF College of Medicine department of urology.
Out of approximately 5,000 facilities considered for inclusion in the 2013-14 Best Hospitals rankings, only 3 percent of hospitals were nationally ranked in any of the 16 specialties. In addition, only 15 percent of hospitals are listed as high-performing.
"We are thrilled to once again be recognized among the nation's top hospitals," said Russ Armistead, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville. "It's a reflection on the dedication of our faculty and staff."
The rankings take into consideration the reputation of each hospital, patient survival rates, and a set of care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. Medical centers are also assessed for competence providing complex care for patients who are high-risk.
Earlier this year, Shands Hospital for Children was recognized in six medical specialties in the 2013-14 U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals rankings: diabetes and endocrinology (17th), nephrology (26th), cardiology and heart surgery (32nd), gastroenterology (34th), pulmonology (40th) and cancer (46th).
"These rankings validate the devotion and skill we see every day among our faculty and staff," said Timothy M. Goldfarb, Shands HealthCare CEO. "Our employees and experts working in all of our programs, ranked or unranked, are committed to our patients."
U.S. News & World Report's 2013-14 Best Hospitals listings are available online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals.
U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings at a glance
UF Health Shands Hospital national rankings:
- Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#47)
- Nephrology (#34)
- Neurology & Neurosurgery (#37)
- Pulmonology (#49)
- Urology (#18)
UF Health Shands Hospital is high performing in:
- Cancer
- Diabetes & Endocrinology
- Ear, Nose & Throat
- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Gynecology
- Orthopedics
UF Health Jacksonville is high performing in:
- Cancer
- Cardiology & Heart Surgery
- Diabetes & Endocrinology
- Ear, Nose & Throat
- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Gynecology
- Nephrology
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Pulmonology
- Urology