World Class Community Health Care

Gainesville residents have access to world class, professional medical care. Patients across the nation have sought medical care at Gainesville health care facilities. Alachua County is known as one of the premier health care centers in the Southeast, with four major hospitals and more than 1,800 patient beds. With its more than 1,200 physicians, Alachua County boasts the highest number of physicians per capita in Florida.

Major medical centers include North Florida Regional Medical Center, Shands Hospital at UF, Shands at AGH and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Each has areas of expertise outstanding in the region. It is also home to the University of Florida Health Science Center, the most comprehensive academic medical center in the Southeast.

In addition to the major hospitals, Alachua County has a number of independent birthing centers, dialysis, ambulatory care and surgery centers, nursing homes and adult congregate living facilities.

The health care industry in Gainesville is the second largest employer (the University of Florida is the largest) with more than 15,000 employees and a medical services industry payroll of over $440 million.

Gainesville’s medical community has the most modern facilities and skilled practitioners available in the country, drawing patients for treatment from all of the southern states and many states nationwide. International patients have sought medical care at Gainesville facilities, attracted by the worldwide reputation of the excellent physicians and programs available at the medical centers in the area.

North Florida Regional Medical Center is a 278-bed hospital and medical park with more than 400 physicians on staff that offers over 40 different specialties including comprehensive programs in areas such as women’s health, senior health services, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and neuromusculoskeletal diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis and stroke. Since being founded by a group of physicians in 1972, NFRMC has provided the community with high quality, cost-effective healthcare. Today, North Florida Regional is a full-service medical and surgical acute care referral center serving 14 counties. It houses the Women’s Center, a 100,000 square-foot, five story building which includes a major diagnostic center, an outpatient women’s and children’s surgical center, obstetrics center and physicians’ offices. Also contained at North Florida are Request Physical Therapy and the Wound Care Center. North Florida Regional was chosen as one of the Top 100 Hospitals in America for six years - one of only nine hospitals in the country to do so according to an annual study of nearly 4,000 hospitals by HICA Inc. and Mercer Management Consulting. NFRMC is distinguished as being the first hospital in the United States to receive full JCAHO accreditation during its first full year of operation. The Gainesville Sun readers voted it the area's "Best Hospital" in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, "Child" magazine named the maternity unit at NFRMC as one of the Top 10 in the nation. Today, North Florida Regional is committed to providing integrated healthcare services that meet or exceed the needs and expectations of those they serve throughout the 14 surrounding counties. Its vision includes caring people, outstanding service and unmatched value.

Shands HealthCare encompasses six acute care hospitals, two specialty hospitals, the largest hospital-owned homecare company in the Southeast and UF clinic operations. Shands is part of the Southeast's most comprehensive academic medical center, the University of Florida Health Science Center, which includes the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Professions, and Veterinary Medicine. More than 400 physicians practice at Shands.

Shands at UF is one of the premier health systems in the Southeast. Shands at UF is committed to delivering essential care to residents living in the local communities it serves; offering advanced diagnostic and medical services; and pioneering in the provision of sophisticated treatments that draw patients nationally for highly specialized, complex care.

It offers care and treatment for a complete array of injuries and illnesses, including specialized care units for burn intensive care, spinal cord injury and pediatric and neonatal intensive care. Shands includes four specialized centers of excellence including cardiovascular medicine, neurological services, cancer services and transplantation.

Shands at UF is a 576-bed private, not-for-profit hospital located on the campus of the University of Florida.

At the heart of UF & Shands are nine not-for profit hospitals and more than 1,500 affiliated University of Florida and community physicians, covering virtually every medical specialty and providing everything from family practice and pediatrics to behavioral health and medically complex care such as trauma. With experts in so many specialized areas, Shands Healthcare has celebrated numerous medical “first” and milestones for the region, state of Florida and nation.

Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida is a hospital within a hospital, and is the second largest children’s hospital in the state. It was recently designated as a member of the National Association of Children’s hospitals and related Institutions.

Shands at AGH, Gainesville’s first community hospital has been providing health care services since 1928. A full-service medical center with 423 beds and more than 200 physicians on staff. AGH offers excellent health care as well as community education programs and services. It has centers of excellence in cardiac care, cancer care, neuroscience, neonatology, women's health and emergency care. AGH recently opened the first hospital-based Skilled Nursing Unit in the area. The hospital sponsors Senior Advantage, a health benefits program for people 55 and older. The campus of AGH includes the Ayers Medical Plaza which houses physician's offices, Ayers Surgery Center, Cancer Care Center, Plaza Pharmacy and Plaza Deli.

Shands at Vista is an 83-bed psychiatric hospital. Vista Pavilion provides treatment for anxiety, depression, family conflict, substance abuse and psychosis. Shands Rehab Hospital is a 40-bed rehabilitation hospital and are both located in northwest Gainesville. UpReach provides comprehensive inpatient medical rehabilitation services including physical medicine, psychology, vocation rehab, and occupational, physical, recreational and speech therapy.

The Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center, is a federally funded medical center that is part of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. It has 478 beds and serves medical, surgical and psychiatric patients with primary, secondary and tertiary care. A variety of outpatient programs are also provided. It extends its services through two hospitals, three satellite clinics and several community outpatient clinics. The hospital complex includes a 120-bed nursing home providing extended care. Operated by the VA’s Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the medical center is the site of the VA’s geriatric research, education and clinical centers through its affiliation with the University of Florida Health Science Center and other colleges and universities. The Gainesville area has several nursing homes offering skilled care. In addition, there are a dozen adult retirement centers providing independent and assisted living.