(Tampa, FL) – January 3, 2019 – Tampa General is the only Tampa Bay hospital named on the 2018 list of “100 hospitals and health systems with great heart programs,” published by Becker’s Hospital Review, a national healthcare publication.

It’s the seventh time TGH has made the annual list. Only one other hospital in Florida made the list in 2018: UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

According to Becker’s, hospitals named on the list are national leaders in cardiovascular healthcare and have invested in their cardiology and cardiovascular surgery programs. Many institutions pioneered groundbreaking procedures and remain on the forefront of heart care today. Others are high-volume centers that have exceeded national benchmarks for quality and survivorship. All have received recognition for delivering top-notch patient care, and many are also involved in clinical research and trials.

To develop the list, Becker’s Healthcare editorial team examined several reputable rankings and award agencies, including U.S. News & World Report rankings for cardiology and heart surgery, IBM Distinction Centers for cardiac care, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons star rankings.

Becker’s noted that TGH became the first in Florida to perform a heart transplant in 1985, and more than 1,000 patients have qualified to receive a transplant since then. It also mentioned that TGH is an American Heart Association (AHA) “Life is Why” sponsor and works with the AHA to raise awareness about the warning signs of cardiovascular disease and stroke.