Achieving Excellence
Recognizing the achievements at UF Health Jacksonville in 2021.
As we near the end of 2021 and reflect back, we realize that it was undoubtedly a difficult year for many reasons. While we battled one of the worst COVID-19 surges and grieved the unexpected passing of Dr. Haley, you showed up, and you persevered. You showed up for our patients, our community and one another. Even in the midst of challenging times, our organization achieved great successes. These accomplishments are a testament to your unmatched dedication, hard work and pursuit of excellence to make us the region’s most valued health care asset.
UF Health Jacksonville was recognized as a high-performing hospital in nine specialties, procedures and conditions in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings for 2021-22, including being ranked 39th in the country in the ear, nose and throat specialty due to the outstanding work of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville department of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Another major accomplishment for UF Health Jacksonville was being awarded a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. To earn the accreditation, our cancer program met 34 quality care standards that focus on excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. The Commission on Cancer singled out UF Health Jacksonville for taking a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, radiation and diagnostic oncologists, pathologists and other cancer specialists — a collaboration that leads to better outcomes for the patient.
Additionally, the organization achieved its third-consecutive Magnet designation this year. The Magnet designation is the nursing profession’s most prestigious recognition for nursing excellence, quality patient outcomes and innovations in professional nursing practice. We earned our first Magnet designation in 2011, followed by a redesignation in 2016. The Magnet Recognition Program uses a rigorous process to designate the best health care organizations throughout the world. Only 9% of hospitals in the U.S. are designated as Magnet organizations, and WE are one of them, thanks to the exceptional work of our nursing teams and those who support the great work they do every day.
And lastly, we’re part of the academic health center of the University of Florida, which is now ranked as the No. 5 public university in the nation, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
These recognitions are only a glimpse at what you have accomplished in 2021. It was under Dr. Haley’s leadership that all of these awards were achieved, and with your help, we will continue to carry his vision forward to see great success in 2022.
I’m honored to be your CEO. Thank you for your dedication to our enterprise.
Sincerely,
Russell E. Armistead, MBA
CEO, UF Health Jacksonville