U.S. News & World Report ranked University of Florida Health Shands Children’s Hospital as Florida’s No. 1 children’s hospital on Tuesday. Five pediatric specialties earned the elite distinction of being rated among the nation’s best, as this hospital continues its remarkable run.
According to the press release from UF Health Newsroom, The U.S. News 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospital survey includes the highest-ever rankings for pediatric pulmonology and lung surgery, listed as the 18th best in the United States. Neurology and neurosurgery units were ranked No. 34.
Three other pediatric specialties also were nationally recognized. They are diabetes and endocrinology (No. 13), cardiology and heart surgery (No. 26) and cancer (No. 49).
All five of these specialties are among the highest-ranked childrens’ programs in Florida.
“I’m proud of everyone on our team who contributes to making UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital the best in Florida,” said David R. Nelson, M.D., UF’s senior vice president for health affairs and president of UF Health. “This ranking is a reflection of the culture of compassion and commitment to excellence that pervades everything we do.”
The hospital is tied for the first best childrens’ hospital in Florida. Overall, it was ranked the 8th best in the nine-state Southeast region.
“Having an ill son or daughter in the hospital is one of the most trying times in the life of any parent,” said Colleen G. Koch, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., dean of the UF College of Medicine. “Families travel from throughout Florida and the Southeast to bring their children to us. That’s an act of trust we do our best to earn each and every day by providing outstanding care that is nationally recognized. Our faculty and staff should be proud that their hard work has earned this honor.”
The U.S. News Best Children’s Hospital rankings are compiled from a survey of 15,000 pediatric specialists who are asked where they would send the sickest children, along with clinical data. These qualifications include patient safety, infection prevention and nursing staff adequacy.
This year, U.S. news also measured equity, diversity and inclusion in the analysis.