Within a span of 62.4 square miles, you have access to world-renowned health care services in Greater Gainesville. Gainesville is home to eight award-winning hospitals and over 220 specialty offices — many of which focus exclusively on pediatric health. Pediatric patients in Gainesville can utilize services ranging from surgery and psychiatry to genetics and hematology and oncology.
Home to the 2nd Largest Children’s Hospital in Florida
The only comprehensive pediatric facility in North Central Florida, UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best hospitals for children in six medical specialties for 2018-19. The hospital was also the second highest ranked hospital in Florida for pediatric cancer care. Additionally, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nursing team holds a gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. A Beacon Award is a three-year designation recognizing nursing units that meet stringent criteria consistent with other well-respected honors.
A Pediatric Community That Cares
Gainesville also prides itself on providing care to pediatric patients and their families through charities such as the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida. The 31-room Ronald McDonald House in Gainesville assists families with sick children by providing a place to stay and rest. The program is built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child. There is also a Ronald McDonald House Family Room located on the 10th floor of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, a special place for families to rest and regroup, just steps away from their child’s bedside.
The South West Advocacy Group (SWAG) is an organization located in the Tower Road area that connects families to services and resources in the community. Its goal is to protect vulnerable children and to support families. The SWAG clinic offers services ranging from family planning and clinical care to immunizations and pediatric services.
Dedicated Pediatric ER
North Florida Regional Medical Center has a dedicated pediatric ER, ready to provide emergency care for children from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. NFRMC also has over 20 doctors on staff who specialize in pediatrics. UF Shands has a 24-hour pediatric ER with 13 private treatment rooms, separate areas for sick and well children, complementary valet parking and child-friendly designs.
Award-Winning Pediatricians
The pediatricians in Gainesville are as excellent as the hospitals themselves. In 2013, Dr. David Weinstein, a pediatrician at UF Health Shands, was presented with the Order of the Smile, an international humanitarian award.
*******
UF Shands Children’s Hospital Awards
- Ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Pediatric Hospitals in six specialities:
– #19 in Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery
– #27 in Pediatric Diabetes & Endocrinology
– #22 in Pediatric Pulmonology
– #49 in Pediatric Cancer
– #39 in Neonatology
– #50 in Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Three nursing care units earned Gold Beacon Awards for Excellence
– The Cardiac ICU, the Pediatric ICU and the Surgical/Trauma ICU
********
Additional Pediatric Resources
- Healthy Families: Healthy Families Florida is a nationally accredited family support and coaching program for expecting parents and parents of newborns. Parents voluntarily participate in services provided in their homes to help improve their child’s outcomes through positive parent-child relationships. Specially trained support workers help them develop healthy parenting skills and achieve goals that increase family stability and self-sufficiency.
(352) 294-5523
healthyfamiliesfla.org
- Healthy Start of North Central Florida: Healthy Start provides universal risk screening of all Florida’s pregnant women and newborn infants to identify those at risk for poor birth, health and developmental outcomes. Healthy Start provides free services to all pregnant women and babies, up to age 3, who can benefit from the program. Services include newborn care, childbirth education, breastfeeding education, parenting education, tobacco education and health and well-being.
(352) 337-1200