High quality health care is accessible to residents across all of Greater Tampa Bay’s dozens of municipalities. The vast network of renowned hospitals and specialty clinics, in addition to countless private and nonprofit medical facilities, ensures the health care needs of every resident can be met close to home, whether it is a regular checkup or a rare and complicated disorder.
GTB hospitals top the charts in U.S. News & World Report’s Florida rankings. Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg comes in at No. 1 as the best children’s hospital in Florida, with eight nationally ranked specialties. Tampa General Hospital has five nationally ranked specialties and is the fourth best hospital in the state, while Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, a BayCare hospital, is the sixth best in the state.
Rankings mean so much more than a number on a list: They indicate real-world, life-saving and life-changing success. Whether it is getting a knee replacement, having back surgery, receiving treatment for type 1 diabetes or being nursed back to health after a heart attack or stroke, specially trained physicians at top ranked hospitals provide expert care. These physicians are supported by local research institutions, the latest technologies and teams of professionals with years of experience. Patients can rest easy knowing they are being taken care of by the best of the best, right there at home.
GTB is a hotbed for medical research. USF Health is a leader in Greater Tampa Bay and beyond, as a global research university of more than 60 years. The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine has been named the 48th Best Medical Schools for Research in the United States by USNWR. MCOM collaborates with TGH, the top-ranked hospital on the Gulf Coast.
The institution works to find cures or solutions for some of the modern world’s most prevalent and serious medical issues, such as finding a cure for and slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and joining in the global fight against COVID-19 by launching several clinical trials. MCOM responded to the challenge of supplies shortages when the COVID-19 pandemic surged in 2020, and it was the first to provide evidence that 3-D printed nasal swabs work as well as standard nasal swabs to test for the coronavirus.
These are just a few examples of medical advancements at only one institution in GTB. In addition, there are numerous centers in the area devoted to research, including hospitals, clinical research sites and nonprofits.
There is such a wide variety of medical research being performed in the GTB area, Guide shines a spotlight on one particular area of research each year. This year, the focus is on diabetes research and the effort to improve treatments, prevention and diagnoses for this disease that affects more than 30 million Americans.
Excellence in health care goes far beyond hospitals and research in Greater Tampa Bay. It consistently ranks as one of the nation’s healthiest metropolitan areas. There is incredible access to hundreds of gyms, fitness centers and recreational facilities. It is also an extremely pedestrian-friendly place, with many nature trails, outdoor attractions and scenic parks. A high proportion of residents prioritize self-care, mental health and spiritual wellness, and they place a high value on leading healthful, active lives.
Regardless of age, economic status, health or fitness levels or where a Greater Tampa Bay resident lives, all have incredible access to high quality health care systems, ample opportunities to stay active and mentally well, and live on the cutting edge of health care.
Healthiest Cities in America
— “America’s Top 20 Metros, Ranked for Healthcare,” HealthCareInsider, 2021
No. 10 Tampa
- Methodology: The nation’s most populous cities were compared by cost, access and quality of health care.
— “Healthiest Places to Live in the U.S.,” WalletHub, 2021
No. 37 Tampa
No. 79 St. Petersburg
- Methodology: A total of 182 cities were compared by health care, food, fitness, and green space.
— “Healthiest Cities in America,” Niche, 2021
No. 91 Clearwater
No. 100 St. Petersburg
No. 105 Tampa
- Methodology: Rankings were identified based on health statistics from the U.S. Census and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on access to health care, mental health and fitness centers, as well as the rates of smoking, alcohol abuse and obesity.
ANCC Magnet Designation
The American Nurses Credentialing Center is the profession’s top recognition for quality patient outcomes and nursing excellence. Only about 9% of all hospitals in the U.S. — 580, to be exact — had this designation as of May 2021. Of those, three are in GTB: Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Tampa General Hospital and the Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute.
