SARASOTA (Aug. 8, 2017) — Sarasota Memorial Hospital was one of only 48 hospitals nationwide to earn the top “high performing” ratings in all inpatient procedures and conditions evaluated in U.S. News' 2017-18 “Best Hospitals” report.
The health system also was recognized among the nation’s highest performers (top 10 percent) in the adult specialty Gastroenterology and GI Surgery.
This year’s ratings again earned SMH a spot on the “Best Hospitals” list for South Florida.
Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder attributes the hospital’s consistently high rankings over the years to the diligence and dedication of its physicians, staff and volunteers, as well as the support and governance of the publicly elected Sarasota County Public Hospital Board.
“The rankings are very validating for our entire team,” Verinder said. “But what matters most is the trust and confidence our patients feel when they come to us for care and ensuring they leave with the best experience and outcomes possible.”
In the 2017-2018 study, U.S. News evaluated the performance of more than 4,500 U.S. hospitals in specialty care, inpatient procedures and the conditions most commonly treated in patients over age 65. SMH was among just 48 hospitals that achieved the top “high performer” rating for all nine of the procedures and conditions that U.S. News measures:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (AAA)
- Aortic valve surgery (AVR)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Colon cancer surgery
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Heart bypass surgery (CABG)
- Hip replacement
- Knee replacement
- Lung cancer surgery
Now in their 28th year, the annual “Best Hospitals” rankings are designed to help patients make informed decisions when choosing a medical provider. The procedures and conditions ratings are included in the annual study to show consumers how well "hospitals stand up to close scrutiny" in nine common surgical procedures and chronic conditions, says U.S. News. Hospitals are rated “high performing,” “average” or “below average" for each condition or procedure.
Barely 1 percent of the 4,500 hospitals evaluated got the top rating across the board, U.S. News noted.
The annual study focuses on care provided to Medicare patients because they often have more complicated conditions upon admission and more advanced illnesses than those of younger patients. The methodology includes risk-adjusted survival and readmission rates, volume, patient experience, patient safety, quality of nursing care and other care-related indicators.
“By providing the most comprehensive data available, we hope to give patients the information they need to find the best care across a range of specialties,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News.
For More Information
U.S. News Best Hospitals
U.S. News: Hospitals with Strong Ratings in Common Procedures and Conditions
Or follow “Best Hospitals” on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #BestHospitals.
In addition to the U.S. News recognition, Sarasota Memorial has earned a number of other recent honors for its quality of care, and remains the only hospital in Florida to earn the highest five-star ranking from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid for quality and safety.
About Sarasota Memorial
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional referral center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with more than 900,000 patient visits each year. Sarasota Memorial’s flagship 829-bed, acute-care hospital has been consistently recognized as one of the nation’s largest and best, with superior patient outcomes and a complete continuum of outpatient services — from urgent care, trauma and emergency services to laboratory and diagnostic imaging, home health, skilled nursing and rehabilitation.