Best Hospitals in Jacksonville (2026)
Jacksonville has something most Florida cities don't: Mayo Clinic. With a 5-star CMS rating, it anchors one of the strongest hospital markets in the Southeast. Add in Baptist Health's two 4-star fa...
Jacksonville has something most Florida cities don't: Mayo Clinic. With a 5-star CMS rating, it anchors one of the strongest hospital markets in the Southeast. Add in Baptist Health's two 4-star facilities, and Jacksonville residents have genuinely excellent options at the top. The catch: HCA-operated hospitals drag the average down with 2-star ratings and limited transparency.
This guide ranks Jacksonville-area hospitals by CMS star ratings, cost-to-charge ratios, and price transparency — helping you navigate a city with both world-class and mediocre options.
Top 5 Hospitals in Jacksonville
| Hospital | CMS Rating | Cost-to-Charge | Discharges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Florida | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0.27 | 18,085 |
| Baptist North Medical Campus | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
| Baptist Medical Center South | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
| Baptist Medical Center Beaches | ⭐⭐⭐ | N/A | N/A |
| Ascension St. Vincent's Southside | N/A | 0.16 | 9,856 |
Understanding the Rankings
CMS Star Ratings
Mayo Clinic Florida stands alone at 5 stars — the only hospital in Jacksonville to achieve the highest CMS rating. Baptist Health provides two strong 4-star options: Baptist North Medical Campus and Baptist Medical Center South. Baptist Medical Center Beaches earns 3 stars. HCA Florida facilities — Memorial Hospital, North Florida Hospital, and several ERs — all sit at 2 stars.
Cost-to-Charge Ratio
Mayo Clinic Florida's 0.27 ratio means charges are about 3.7x actual costs — remarkably reasonable for a 5-star facility. Ascension St. Vincent's Southside has the lowest ratio at 0.16 (6.3x costs). Wolfson Children's Hospital sits at 0.23 (4.3x costs).
Baptist Health facilities don't have published cost data in our system, but their nonprofit status generally correlates with more moderate pricing than HCA's for-profit model.
Price Transparency
St. Luke's-St. Vincent's Healthcare leads with 101 priced procedures. HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital publishes 93. St. Vincent's Medical Center has 84, and Encompass Health Rehabilitation publishes 58. Mayo Clinic and Baptist Health transparency data is available through their respective portals.
Best Value Hospitals in Jacksonville
- Best overall: Mayo Clinic Florida — 5-star, 0.27 ratio, 18,085 discharges. World-class quality at moderate markups.
- Best 4-star value: Baptist North Medical Campus — 4-star with Jacksonville's largest nonprofit health system.
- Lowest markups: Ascension St. Vincent's Southside — 0.16 ratio means lower charges than most competitors.
- Best children's: Wolfson Children's Hospital — 0.23 ratio with 10,486 annual discharges.
- Best transparency: St. Luke's-St. Vincent's Healthcare at 101 priced procedures.
Price Comparison: Common Procedures in Jacksonville
- Lab work (CBC, metabolic panel): $12–$200 depending on facility
- CT scans: $300–$3,800 in the Jacksonville metro
- MRI: $400–$4,500+ — freestanding imaging centers offer significant savings
- ER visits: Facility fees from $500 at smaller facilities to $2,200+ at major hospitals
Compare real prices using Taven's price comparison tool.
Jacksonville Hospital System Overview
- Mayo Clinic Florida — The flagship Southeast campus of the Mayo Clinic system. 5-star with 18,085 discharges. Known for complex cases, cancer care, and transplants. Draws patients from across the Southeast.
- Baptist Health — Jacksonville's largest nonprofit health system. Operates Baptist North (4-star), Baptist South (4-star), Baptist Beaches (3-star), and Wolfson Children's Hospital. Strong community reputation.
- Ascension St. Vincent's — Catholic nonprofit system with Southside campus (0.16 ratio, 9,856 discharges) and downtown St. Vincent's Medical Center. Known for cardiac and orthopedic care.
- HCA Florida — For-profit operator of Memorial Hospital (2-star) and North Florida Hospital (2-star). Multiple freestanding ERs. Generally the lowest-rated system in the market.
- UF Health Jacksonville — Teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Florida. Major safety net hospital serving Duval County's uninsured population. Level I trauma center.
Jacksonville's Two-Tier Market
Jacksonville has a dramatic quality gap. At the top, Mayo Clinic and Baptist Health deliver 4-to-5-star care comparable to any major US city. At the bottom, HCA's 2-star facilities serve many of the same neighborhoods. The difference can be life-or-death — CMS ratings correlate with mortality, readmission, and complication rates. Choose wisely.
Tips for Choosing a Hospital in Jacksonville
- Mayo Clinic is the clear #1. 5-star quality with moderate markups (0.27 ratio). If you can access it, it's the best option in Northeast Florida.
- Baptist Health is a strong alternative. Two 4-star hospitals with nonprofit pricing and deep community roots.
- Avoid HCA facilities for planned care. Both Memorial Hospital and North Florida Hospital earn just 2 stars.
- Compare prices before scheduled procedures. Use Taven's comparison tool with real Jacksonville data.
- Florida's surprise billing protections apply to emergency services. Know your patient rights.
- Ask about charity care — nonprofit hospitals like Baptist and Ascension must offer financial assistance.
- Get a Good Faith Estimate before any planned procedure.
- Review your bill. Use our free bill review tool to catch errors and overcharges.
How We Rank Hospitals
Our rankings use CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, cost-to-charge ratios from CMS cost reports, and price transparency compliance data. We don't accept advertising from hospitals. Learn more about our methodology.