The University of Florida Health Shands Children’s Hospital continues to uphold its reputation as a leading regional and state pediatric center that consistently provides exemplary patient care, attracting families from all over Florida and the Southeast. Confirmation of its sterling reputation has been highlighted with five of its specialties receiving national rankings in a recent U.S. News & World Report survey of pediatric hospitals scattered across the country.
The specialties that received acclaim are as follows: cardiology and heart surgery (ranked 38th), cancer (ranked 49th), pulmonology and lung surgery (ranked 23rd), and diabetes and endocrinology (ranked 33rd), as shown in the U.S. News 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospital survey. An additional feather in the cap for UF Health is their pediatric behavioral health, which has been acknowledged among the top 50 specialties nationwide.
This marks an important milestone for the behavioral health specialty, as 2024 represents the first year it was included in the U.S. News rankings. This major addition has been over 15 years in the making and comes with a unique caveat — either a pediatric behavioral health specialty ranks in the top 50, or it does not, with no specific numerical ranking attached.
Highlighting the institution’s consistent commitment to superior healthcare, Steve Motew, M.D., M.H.A., president and CEO of the UF Health clinical enterprise, expressed his pride in the pediatrics team’s significant efforts in ensuring optimum patient care. Rashmin C. Savani, M.B., Ch.B., the head of the UF College of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics, lauded UF Health’s comprehensive multidisciplinary approach, which guarantees patients never lack vital expertise.
Such recognition has been the result of relentless work by doctors, nurses, medical professionals, and support staff. Savani expressed specific delight regarding the national recognition of UF Health’s pediatric behavioral health program. Dealing with more patients than any other area of pediatrics, developmental and behavioral health is a critical community and family resource.
Addressing the nationwide need and shortage of certified developmental and behavioral pediatricians, UF Health has introduced an innovative model, now adopted in several parts of the U.S. The model trains pediatricians to undertake initial evaluations, facilitating the triaging of patients requiring urgent care to certified behavioral pediatricians. This process helps to eliminate prolonged wait times, allowing patients to receive the required treatment more quickly than the national average.
The U.S. News rankings, drawn from over 100 children’s hospitals, are based on a thorough array of performance indicators, including infection prevention, patient safety, nurse staffing, and reputation scores from non-affiliated pediatricians. Of all the hospitals surveyed, only 88 had at least one specialty making it to the top 50 national list.
Source: https://alachuachronicle.com/uf-health-shands-childrens-hospital-ranks-among-nations-best/