Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has achieved verification under the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Emergency General Surgery Verification Program (EGS-VP), making it the first health system in Florida and the 11th in the nation to receive this designation. The EGS-VP is an evidence-based assessment that sets a national standard for emergency surgical care, covering common and acute surgical emergencies.

Melissa Golombek, executive vice president and chief operating officer at TGH, emphasized that this recognition sets a benchmark for high-quality emergency general surgery care. The EGS-VP helps hospital systems provide around-the-clock care, promptly identifying and managing conditions requiring emergency surgery, such as appendicitis, gallbladder disease, severe abdominal infections/sepsis, bowel obstructions, perforated ulcers, soft tissue infections, hemorrhagic emergencies, and hernia repairs.

The EGS-VP status signifies that TGH offers medical care from an expert team of surgeons and specialists with specific expertise in treating emergency conditions, with advanced resources available at all times. Verified hospitals have demonstrated the ability to operationalize emergency surgery with high standards of safety and quality, adhering to ACS standards.

Michele Moran, vice president for Emergency Services at TGH, noted that this designation reflects the integration of research, clinical care, and medical education, aligning with TGH's mission as an academic health system and Level 1 trauma center. Dr. Thomas Herron, medical director of emergency general surgery at TGH, added that the EGS designation improves outcomes for acutely ill surgical patients and provides trainees exposure to a nationally verified model of emergency surgical care.

The ACS EGS-VP, developed with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST), builds on other ACS quality improvement programs, improving surgical quality outcomes, decreasing complications, reducing costs, and saving lives. As an EGS-VP verified hospital, Tampa General maintains its reputation as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, demonstrating a commitment to improving healthcare delivery and adhering to rigorous standards in surgical quality.

Tampa General Hospital is a 1529-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system. It is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Hospitals, with two medical specialties ranking among the top 20 nationally. TGH is the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. It was the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant center in 2024. The hospital leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and its analytics platform across inpatient and outpatient care. Tampa General is recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America's Best Large Employers in 2025.

Tampa General Hospital provided approximately $301.8 million in net community benefit in fiscal year 2023. As the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa General operates five medical helicopters and houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center. Its footprint includes TGH North, Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Outpatient Centers, TGH Virtual Health, and TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers. Tampa Bay area residents can also access care through TGH Urgent Care powered by the Fast Track network of clinics and Virtual Health services.