For patients from out-of-town, there are many places to stay for either a short or a long stay; Gainesville offers a wide variety of hotels, motels and bed & breakfast inns. Please contact us for a current listing of lodgings that offer discounts to our Shands patients. Some also offer shuttle service to our facility for your convenience. You can also visit the Alachua County Visitors Bureau online at www.VisitGainesville.com for a listing of hotels.
If you plan to stay overnight in Gainesville, we suggest that you make a reservation beforehand if possible. Many sports events and conventions take place in Gainesville so some hotels are frequently booked up.
Alachua County American Cancer Society Hotel Partnership
On October 1, 2020 the American Cancer Society (ACS) announced that funds normally earmarked for Hope Lodge, which closed on August 6, 2020, will be used to support another option to help the most needy patients in Alachua County. The ACS will partner with a local hotel to offer free lodging for patients through 2021. Rooms with a kitchenette will be provided and patients will need to arrange for transportation to and from the hotel, as shuttles were discontinued due to COVID-19. Patients may request a handicap room. For more information, contact UF Radiation Oncology at 352-265-0287.
Ronald McDonald House
Sponsored by McDonald’s restaurants, the Ronald McDonald House offers temporary housing for families while a child is undergoing cancer treatment or other kinds of major therapy in Gainesville. The cost is $10 per day, although this is sometimes waived.
You must register ahead of time to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. There may be a waiting list so you may not be able to stay there immediately. Please contact the social worker and she can assist you with this process.
Financial Arrangements
A financial counselor will meet with you when you are first seen in our department and again as needed to assist you with financial arrangements. Our department is a preferred provider for many insurance plans, and also treats patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid. If you need specific information about charges or insurance coverage before you come to the department, call Yvonne Sturkes at (352) 265-8897. If she cannot answer your specific question, she can refer you to the proper source of information.
