The Guide asked three local healthcare leaders why Greater Gainesville is the location of choice for preeminent health care.
SCOTT MEDLEY, M.D.
As a family physician, I had the honor to practice medicine in Gainesville for 33 years in several different capacities — as a primary care physician, a faculty member at the University of Florida College of Medicine, as a “hospitalist” and finally, as chief medical officer at North Florida Regional Medical Center (NFRMC). This variety of opportunities has given me a unique perspective on health care in this area that I would like to share with you. And, for those requiring hospitalization, there are world-class institutions that provide superior care.” UF Health Shands Hospital and NFRMC have long-standing excellent reputations. From primary to secondary to more advanced tertiary and quaternary care, the citizens of Gainesville and surrounding areas enjoy exceptional medical services. Additionally, one generally does not have to endure a long commute to access these great hospitals.
The Malcom Randall VA Medical Center provides superlative care to veterans from north Florida and south Georgia.
For those seeking alternative medical care, there are experienced and accom-plished practitioners who provide everything from acupuncture to massage therapy to pet therapy. There are excellent hospice organizations in the area that provide highquality, compassionate end-of-life care.
The Alachua County Health Department offers a wide variety of programs. And the Alachua County Medical Society (ACMS) is a place where physicians from the community and the university unite to foster programs to improve health care. The ACMS is unique in that it is headquartered in a 135-year-old house that includes a fascinating medical museum.
A historical note about “AGH” — newcomers to Gainesville will hear long-term residents speak lovingly about “dear old AGH.” Many people still living here were born or received care at Alachua General Hospital — a venerable institution that was revered by many from its founding in 1935 until it was closed and was demolished in 2009, giving way to UF’s exciting Innovation Square.
Welcome to Gainesville, and please enjoy reading more details in this guide about the superior, compassionate and cutting-edge health care that can be found here.
EDWARD JIMENEZ—Chief Executive Officer, UF Health Shands
Welcome to the heart of North Central Florida! We are glad you have joined our vibrant community. Whether you are from out of state or from a nearby city, you will find Greater Gainesville a great place to live — and a great place to benefit from outstanding healthcare resources.
University of Florida Health is part of the Gator Nation, known for outstanding quality programs and services. At UF Health, we offer an integrated approach to providing comprehensive care from more than 1,000 UF College of Medicine expert physicians and thousands of skilled nurses and specially trained primary care and specialty providers. Our hospitals, physician practices, outpatient programs and emergency services are located throughout the area to provide easy access close to home. From prenatal care to senior care and at every stage in between, we strive to meet all your health and wellness needs.
UF Health even offers dental care at the UF College of Dentistry and animal care at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine.
As an academic health center, our doctors, nurses, providers, and staff are constantly learning and improving on best practices in medicine. Because our physicians push the envelope in research advances, our patients benefit with the best possible outcomes for their healthcare needs.
Because of our unique missions of patient care, research, education, and community service and our high standards for safe, quality care, UF Health has become recognized as a regional healthcare resource and destination. We serve patients from every one of Florida’s 67 counties. We are proud that people travel great distances to access our experts and services, and we remain committed to serving residents from our local communities. We now welcome you and your loved ones to rely on our programs here in Gainesville.
North Central Florida is growing, and UF Health is evolving to meet residents’ needs now and in the future. We continue to expand and offer physician practices in convenient locations across town. We have a main campus medical center plus specialty hospitals that unite top experts to provide streamlined, targeted care. We are building two new specialty hospitals — the UF Health Heart & Vascular Hospital and the UF Health Neuromedicine Hospital — to meet specific needs for highly specialized care.
UF Health has a freestanding emergency center on Northwest 39th Avenue and we are building another on the corner of Southwest Archer Road and Tower Road. These two facilities — in addition to the hospital-based adult E.R., pediatric E.R., and chest pain center — mean that no matter when or where a loved one has an urgent medical need, UF Health has physicians and staff standing by to help.
We are deeply committed to giving back to the community in which we live, whether through collaborations to offer community clinics and classes or through donations and in-kind services to help community agencies improve the health, wellness and quality of life of our citizens. As a not-for-profit organization, we reinvest all earnings back into our healthcare resources and we are committed to providing a significant amount of charity care to support our most at-risk local residents. UF Health is also a partner with city, county, and state agencies as the community’s “first receiver” in emergencies, thanks to our emergency and trauma services and levels of expertise and diverse resources.
When it comes to health, wellness, and quality of life, UF Health is here to serve you and your loved ones. Welcome to Gainesville.
BRIAN T. COOK—President and CEO, North Florida Regional Healthcare
On behalf of all those who are a part of North Florida Regional Healthcare, I’d like to welcome you to your new home and community. I think you’ll find a great deal for you and your family to enjoy here.
You will also be pleased to learn that our community offers true excellence in healthcare, and we’re proud to be a significant part of that. Our organization is centered around North Florida Regional Medical Center, a 432-bed full-service medical and surgical acute care center, which serves fourteen counties in North Central Florida. We take pride in the significant investments we’ve made in healthcare technology such as MAKOplasty, the latest Da Vinci XI robotic system and the Cyberknife – just to name a few.
We’re leading the way in North Central Florida with adv anced procedures and minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and neurosciences, as well as cancer care. We’re perhaps best known for our commitment to fast, quality care in our ER, and we have completed an expansion that adds a dedicated pediatric ER to our emergency services. In addition to specialty care and emergency services, we provide primary medical care through Gainesville Family Physicians, Gainesville Internal Medicine Physicians and our Senior Healthcare Centers. Our commitment to quality outcomes is evident in the recognition we’ve received. We’re the only hospital in Gainesville recognized by the Joint Commission five consecutive years as a top quality performer. North Florida Regional is certified as a Primary Stroke Center, is Gainesville’s first accredited Chest Pain Center and is designated as a blue distinction center for knee and hip replacement, spine surgery and weight loss surgery. Our employees are truly focused on patient care and our mission of exceeding the expectations of all those we serve.
There are so many decisions to make after you move into a new community. Decisions about your healthcare are among the most important. We invite you to visit our website at www.NFRMC.com to learn more about us and what we can do to help you and your family stay as healthy as possible. Again, welcome to our community!