U.S. News says SMH rehab among best in nation

SARASOTA — Sarasota Memorial Hospital is once again on U.S. News & World Report's list of 50 best hospitals ranked by specialities, and still the only facility in the region to achieve the recognition.

SMH improved its standing this year, seeing its ranking for rehabilitation rise two places, to No. 29, and being recognized for 24 high-performing specialties, procedures and conditions, compared to 20 last year, a news release states.

The additional honors include being named in the top 10% for six other high-performing specialties and receiving top ratings for 17 high-performing procedures and conditions, it says.

SMH's specialty rankings place it among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide.

U.S. News evaluates nearly 5,000 hospitals each year to compile its rankings, which it has published for 35 years.

Hospital CEO David Verinder gives credit to SMH's physicians and staff, as well as its "deep roots and longstanding community mission" for the honors it regularly receives.

“Our physicians, nurses and staff share a sense of purpose and community mission due to Sarasota Memorial’s singular status as the region’s only not-for-profit, public hospital,” he said in the release. “SMH has been caring for this community for nearly 100 years. The patient outcomes our team achieves are due entirely to their diligence and dedication to those we serve.”

SMH is also one of the top five hospitals in the state, the highest-rated hospital in South Florida and No. 1 in the Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port metropolitan region, according to the release.

“Over the years, as our hospital grew with the community and evolved into the regional referral center it is today, we have never lost sight of our public mission and why we are here,” Sarah Lodge, chair of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, said in the release. “We continue to serve as our community’s healthcare safety net, while providing the highest quality, nationally ranked medical care.”

SMH was also recently recognized by Healthgrades as one of the eight best hospitals in Florida for cardiac care.

AdventHealth Orlando, Downtown Baker Hospital (Naples), HCA Florida JFK Hospital (Atlantis), HCA Florida North Florida Hospital (Gainesville), HCA Florida Osceola Hospital (Kissimmee), Mayo Clinic in Florida (Jacksonville) and Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center also made the list.

The rankings recognize hospitals that deliver superior patient outcomes in heart bypass surgery, coronary interventional procedures, heart attack treatment, heart failure treatment and heart valve surgery, the news release stated.