SARASOTA, Fla. (July 26, 2023) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System announced today that its flagship Sarasota hospital was awarded a prestigious 5-star rating from the U.S. Ce
nters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 8th year in a row.
Of the 5,400-plus U.S. hospitals CMS evaluated, less than 10 percent received the 5-star designation in today’s release.
Sarasota Memorial is one of 11 hospitals in Florida to earn a 5-star designation this year, and the only hospital in Florida to receive continuous 5-star ratings since CMS began the rating program in 2016. Star ratings are based on hospital quality indicators across five categories: safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, mortality outcomes and timely and effective care.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota’s exemplary record sets a strong benchmark for Florida, said David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. He said the repeated 5-star ranking is a reflection of the health system’s public mission to provide world-class care to the community.
“We are proud to set the standard for high-quality patient care in our community and in our state,” Verinder said. “We will continue to build this culture of excellence by investing in top clinicians, advanced technologies and leading-edge facilities.”
Lorrie Liang, president of the SMH-Sarasota campus, expressed gratitude to physicians and staff for their enduring commitment to quality and safety.
SMH-Venice, which opened in late 2021, is not yet eligible for a star rating. Typically, CMS reviews up to three years of quality data before issuing a star rating. For more information about the 2023 CMS Star Ratings, visit medicare.gov/care-compare.
About Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional referral center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with more than 1 million patient visits each year across its 2 hospital campuses, free-standing ER, skilled nursing and rehabilitation center and network of outpatient and urgent care centers. Its flagship 901-bed Sarasota hospital has been consistently recognized as one of the nation’s best, with superior patient outcomes and comprehensive network of outpatient services. In November 2021, the public health system opened a second acute-care hospital, SMH-Venice, to serve the growing south Sarasota County region, and the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute to expand and improve cancer care in the community. For more information, visit smh.com.