SARASOTA (Oct. 31, 2017) – Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) received another “A” for patient safety today, according to
Leapfrog Group’s latest hospital safety report card.
This was the third time that Sarasota Memorial participated in Leapfrog’s national safety survey and the
third consecutive time that the hospital received an A grade for preventing medical errors, infections and other harms.
Developed under the guidance of a Blue Ribbon National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign performance grades—A, B, C, D and F—to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. The grades are calculated by top patient safety experts, peer reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
While most local hospitals received “C” grades, SMH was one of three in Sarasota and Manatee counties—and among 832 across the nation—that received A’s for their “commitment to keeping patients safe and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States,” according to Leapfrog’s announcement today.
“It takes consistent, unwavering dedication to patients to achieve the highest standards of patient safety. An ‘A’ Safety Grade recognizes hospitals for this accomplishment,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We congratulate the clinicians, board, management and staff of Sarasota Memorial for showing the country what it means to put patient safety first.”
Leapfrog is one of several organizations that publish hospital data reports and quality comparisons online to help consumers choose safe and high-quality hospitals and medical providers.
“While hospital performance cannot be reduced to a single, overall grade, it can be a great place for consumers to start researching physicians and hospital providers,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder. “It’s important to consult multiple sources and to evaluate their specialties and experience in specific treatments and procedures. Then choose your providers based on the best clinical outcomes and teams that meet your individual needs.”
Other organizations that consistently rank Sarasota Memorial among the best in the nation include:
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – SMH is among the top 2 percent nationally and the only hospital in Florida with the federal government’s highest five-star rating.
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U.S. News & World Report – SMH was one of just 48 hospitals nationwide to earn the top “high performing” ratings in all procedures and conditions evaluated in U.S. News’ 2017-2018 “Best Hospitals” list.
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Becker’s Healthcare – In 2017, SMH was named in
Becker’s “100 Great Hospitals in America” list.
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Truven Health – SMH was listed among the
Top 50 Heart Hospitals in 2017.
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American Nurses Credentialing Center – SMH ranks among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide that consistently
earn “Magnet” status for continued nursing excellence for more than a decade.
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
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. Its 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. SMH is the only hospital in Florida with the highest five-star ranking from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid for quality and safety.