UF Health Shands Children's Hospital
Address
Gainesville, Florida 32608
Phone Numbers
Hours of Operation
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UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, nationally recognized and a cornerstone of the UF Health Shands campus, provides care in more than 20 pediatric specialties. It is also home to the UF Health Shands Pediatric E.R. – the community’s first emergency department devoted to caring for children who are acutely ill or injured. UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital provides care for the kids of our community and the state of Florida and is a major destination center for pediatric patients from all over the United States and overseas who require specialized attention for complex medical problems.


UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is honored to be recognized as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals according to the 2024-25 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital rankings. Our pediatric experts’ commitment to providing superb care and attention is reflected in the national rankings of our outstanding pediatric specialty programs: pulmonology and lung surgery (No. 23), diabetes and endocrinology (No. 33), cardiology and heart surgery (No. 38), cancer (No. 49) and pediatric and adolescent behavioral health - top 50 in the nation. Thank you for trusting us to care for your child and your family.
UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital represents the only quaternary care academic pediatric center in North Florida. The children’s hospital has 208 beds, including a fully equipped pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit. UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is part of the Children's Miracle Network's alliance of premier hospitals for children.
UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is also a member of the Children’s Hospital Association, formerly known as the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions. The Children’s Hospital Association advances child health through innovation in the quality, cost and delivery of pediatric care. Representing 223 children’s hospitals, the Association is the voice of pediatric hospitals nationally. It champions public policies that enable hospitals to better serve children and is the premier resource for pediatric data and analytics, driving improved clinical and operational performance of member hospitals.
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UF Health Shands Hospital
Pediatric Progress Report
Welcome to the University of Florida Health Pediatric Progress Report, where we share news and updates from UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. Read more about what makes our pediatric programs unique and the progress we have made in the past year as we strive to offer our patients the highest-quality care as one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals. We hope you will appreciate our digital format, which is best viewed using Firefox or Chrome from a PC or Safari from a Mac.

UF Health is Now a National Medical Center for Team USA
We are here to proudly champion Team USA’s health as the newest member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Network, providing elite athletes access to the same world-class health care available to you and your family.

Upcoming renovations
UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital has recently launched a large-scale renovation project to provide a fresh and dramatic floor-to-ceiling updates to our patient rooms and pediatric medical surgical areas. After this renovation, our young patients and their families will be able to now enjoy private rooms with ensuite restrooms, updated exam rooms and family waiting rooms and interactive activity rooms specific for teens and toddlers. Despite these exciting changes, the same high quality patient care you have come to know from UF Health will remain the same. For more information, and to follow along with our construction updates, visit giving.ufhealth.org/builtforkids.
Related conditions & treatments
- Allergy testing - skin
- Arachnoid cyst
- Asthma in children
- Autoimmune disorders
- Breastfeeding
- Chiari malformations
- Chronic kidney disease
- Congenital heart disease
- Congenital kidney disease
- Craniofacial
- Craniosynostosis
- Diabetes diet - type 1
- Digestive diseases
- Epilepsy in children
- Gastroschisis
- Hydrocephalus
- Immunology
- Myocarditis - pediatric
- Neurofibromatosis 2
- Neurofibromatosis-1
- Neurological Disorders
- Pediatric Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
- Pediatric cancer
- Pediatric gastrointerology
- Pediatric heart surgery
- Pediatric pituitary and skull base services
- Premature infant
- Scoliosis
- Scoliosis surgery in children
- Seizures
- Sleep disorders - pediatric
- Spasticity
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Deformity: Scoliosis and Kyphotic Deformities
Pediatric specialties
- Allergy
- Breastfeeding
- Cancer
- Cardiology
- Cellular and Molecular Therapy
- Critical Care Medicine (PICU)
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
- General Pediatrics
- Genetics and Metabolism
- Hospital Medicine
- Immunology & Rheumatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neonatology
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Neuromuscular Disease
- Neurosurgery
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Otolaryngology
- Pulmonology
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
- Surgery
- Transplant
- Urology
Meeting your health care needs
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Medical Imaging Services
UF Health offers day-of, on-site imaging services in a qualified medical center.
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Med to Bed
Meds to beds is a bedside free service designed with your convenience in mind. Our meds to beds program allows a pharmacist to deliver your medications to you prior to your discharge from the hospital.
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Outpatient Lab Services
Full-service, on-site lab services and testing for your convenience.
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Patient Blood Management
Safe, effective medical and surgical techniques designed to prevent anemia and decrease bleeding during a procedure.
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Pharmacies
Accepts most prescription plans; competitive prices; on-site.
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UF Health Midwifery Group
Exceptional, individualized, compassionate and evidence-based midwifery care.
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Fitness and Wellness Center
Use the Fitness and Wellness Center whether you're a patient or with a patient.
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Hotel and Lodging
Need assistance in finding a place to stay? Gainesville has a variety of options.
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Meditation Space
Sanctuaries of Silence and Peace and other spaces are open for meditation and reflection.
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Pastoral Care
The pastoral services staff seeks to provide spiritual support for patients and families.
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Patient Advocates
Patient advocates provide guidance and act as liaisons between patients and the care team.
For your convenience and peace of mind
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Accessibility
Aids and services are available to help people with disabilities communicate effectively.
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ATM and Banking
Many of UF Health's properties have various branch ATMs and/or branch offices.
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Baby-Changing Station
Baby-changing stations are available in many of UF Health's restrooms.
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Caremail (Email Service)
Friends and family can send messages to any UF Health patient through the CareMail service.
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Coffee
Options include Opus Coffee and Starbucks in the hospital atriums.
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Free Wifi
Patients and guests get free wireless internet access at UF Health hospitals.
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Gardens and Outdoor Spaces
The Garden of Hope, Sun Terrace, and other spaces help patients and families relax.
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Gender-Neutral Restroom
Gender-neutral, public restrooms are located throughout UF Health's properties.
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Gift Shops
The Gift Stops offer a wide variety of gifts and products for patients and families.
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Interpreters / Hearing Impaired
UF Health provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English.
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Medical Records
You can download a form or call (352) 594-0909 to have medical records mailed or faxed.
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Notary Public
Notary services are available to patients and visitors Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Smoke-Free
Smoking, chewing tobacco, or using electronic cigarettes is prohibited on UF Health properties.
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Social Services
Social workers are part of the patient's care team and work with medical staff and nurses.
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Virtual Care
In some cases, UF Health offers telehealth care via a desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet.
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Virtual Visitation
In some cases, UF Health offers telehealth visits via a desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Community and Patient Programs: UF Health Shands Children's Hospital
Our community and patient programs provide great value to patients, families and loved ones. People can find support, educational materials, expert consultants and more. In most instances, these programs are offered free of charge.
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Arts in Medicine Hospital Programs
Programs designed to expand healing possibilities in the hospital setting.
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Child Life Program
Helps children and families cope with the stress and anxiety of hospitalization.
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Give to Child Life Program
Gift donations for kids who have to stay in the hospital. Items are used in pediatric areas throughout the hospital.
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Pediatric Social Workers
Offer counseling, planning and other assistance to all pediatric patients.
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The Children’s Miracle Network
Helps increase funds and awareness for UF Health Shands Children's Hospital.