Sarasota Memorial Health Care System's 2026 Community Report
COMMUNITY 2026 REPORT
A health care safety net A lifesaving trauma center
An innovator in medical technology and research
A training ground for the next generation of physicians and nurses
Message from President & CEO David Verinder
Sarasota Memorial is a cornerstone of our community’s health, strength and future.
Since opening its doors in 1925, the health system has elevated the standard of health care throughout the region, earning national recognition for our advanced treatments, innovative technology, and high-quality patient experience delivered by our compassionate, dedicated staff. Over the last several years, we have invested over $2 billion in world-class facilities, pioneering research and advanced technology that improve residents’ access to the highest level of care, close to home. An economic engine for the community, Sarasota Memorial is the region’s largest employer, recruiting and supporting top-tier staff while training the health care workforce of tomorrow. I’m pleased to share our 2026 Community Report. In the pages ahead, you’ll see how we are driving medical innovation, expanding lifesaving services and ensuring our community has access to exceptional care.
Thanks to your support, we continue building a healthier, stronger community — today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Sarasota kicked off 2026 achieving what no other Florida hospital could: a perfect 5-Star rating for quality from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the 10th consecutive year. Of more than 4,000 hospitals evaluated, the flagship Sarasota hospital is one of only 17 nationwide — and the only one in Florida – to earn 5-Star ratings every year since CMS launched the rating program in 2016. Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Venice also received a 5-Star rating in 2026.
Independent Oversight and Transparency
As the region’s only public health system, Sarasota Memorial is unique in placing decision-making power in the hands of local residents. Our operations and priorities are directly accountable to the local communities we serve. In comparison, other hospitals in the region are investor-owned and governed by distant corporate headquarters, with the community having little say in their oversight. Charged with setting the strategic direction of the organization and serving as stewards of public resources, the elected Hospital Board establishes the organization’s annual budget in a transparent process, which includes public hearings that are open to the community.
Tax revenue included in the budget is devoted to programs, services, facilities and equipment that help respond to the community’s evolving health care needs.
Our health system is governed by the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, comprised of nine unpaid citizens elected by local voters to four-year terms.
Kevin Cooper Chair At Large Seat 2 Term Ends: 2028
Sharon Wetzler DePeters, APRN First Vice Chair At Large Seat 1 Term Ends: 2028
Patricia Maraia, BSN, RN Second Vice Chair Southern District Seat 1 Term Ends: 2026
Gregory Carter Asst. Secretary Southern District Seat 2 Term Ends: 2026
Brad Baker Treasurer Northern District Seat 1 Term Ends: 2026
Pam Beitlich, DNP, APRN, RN
Secretary At Large Seat 3 Term Ends: 2028
Bridgette Fiorucci, BSN, RN Member Central District Seat 2 Term Ends: 2026
Victor Rohe Asst. Treasurer Northern District Seat 2 Term Ends: 2026
Sarah Lodge Member Central District Seat 1 Term Ends: 2028
The Greatest Depth and Breadth of
World Class Heart & Vascular Services Sarasota Memorial delivers the most comprehensive cardiovascular care in the region, from the latest
preventive and diagnostic options to advanced procedures, minimally invasive surgeries, innovative therapies and rehabilitation. Patients benefit from our expert team’s decades of experience and success in treating a wide range of cardiovascular conditions and the most complex cases. • Sarasota Memorial was recognized as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® in 2026 in a quality analysis published in Modern Healthcare.
• SMH earned “high performer” ratings in heart bypass surgery, heart attack and heart arrhythmia treatment, aortic valve surgery, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and transcatheter aortic valve replacement in U.S. News’ 2025-2026 “Best Hospitals” study.
Leading Provider of Orthopedic Care
Nationally recognized for excellence, Sarasota Memorial’s Orthopedic program helps patients with joint, spine and other orthopedic conditions
regain their quality of life. The highly skilled team specializes in a wide range of innovative treatments tailored for each patient’s needs, including the latest robotic and minimally invasive surgical options and implant technology, rehabilitation, medically integrated fitness and wellness classes. • Ranked among the top 10% of hospitals in the nation for orthopedics and a top performer for hip and knee replacements in U.S. News’ 2025-2026 “Best Hospitals” report.
Top-Ranked Neurology & Neurosurgery Services The health system is a respected leader in the treatment of complex neurological conditions. SMH-Sarasota is Sarasota County’s only Comprehensive Stroke Center, a state designation awarded to facilities with the most advanced treatments for patients experiencing complex strokes. SMH-Venice is a Primary Stroke Center, a state designation given to centers that follow stringent performance standards for stroke care. • S MH was named a High Performer for its excellence in stroke care in U.S. News’ 2025-2026 “Best Hospitals” report.
Top-Quality Care in the Region
Top 50 Hospital for Care of Mother & Baby Sarasota Memorial is the only hospital
in Sarasota County that provides obstetrics and maternity services, high-risk pregnancy care, a neonatal intensive care unit for premature and critically ill newborns, and pediatric services. No other hospital in the region is as equipped as Sarasota Memorial to help deliver healthy babies. • SMH was listed among U.S. News’ 50 Best Hospitals in the nation for Obstetrics/Gynecology Care for 2025-2026. Sarasota County’s Only Trauma Center Our flagship Sarasota Campus is equipped with advanced treatments, technology and highly skilled trauma surgeons and specialists who provide lifesaving care 24/7, ensuring that severely injured residents can be treated at their local hospital and not transported outside the county. Over the last 10 years, SMH-Sarasota has been continually designated as the county’s only Level 2 Trauma Center, following on-site evaluations by the American College of Surgeons that determined our team meets or exceeds rigorous standards of trauma care. • Over 5,200 trauma patients treated annually • Patient survival rates are significantly higher than national benchmarks Ranked Among Nation’s Best for Rehabilitation Sarasota Memorial’s Rehabilitation team provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient therapy to meet the medical and mobility needs of people recovering from illness and injuries. • In 2026, Newsweek named SMH one of America’s Best Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Centers, and included its Nursing & Rehabilitation Center among the nation’s best nursing homes. Pioneering Surgical Services Sarasota Memorial deployed the first commercially available da Vinci surgical robot in Florida over 20 years ago, and has remained at the forefront of minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques ever since. The procedures give the precision and flexibility to treat conditions through tiny incisions rather than a large opening, typically resulting in less pain and faster recovery.
2 Million + Patient Visits Annually Systemwide
1,109 Licensed Beds at Our 2 Hospitals
186,636 Emergency Care
4,817 Babies Delivered Annually
Center Visits Systemwide
Expanding Vital Services and Programs
World-Class Care at the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute Sarasota Memorial’s Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute offers a level of personalized care and support found at the nation’s top cancer centers. From genetic testing, advanced imaging and innovative surgical tools to remove difficult cancers, to improving access to groundbreaking therapies, the Cancer Institute provides local cancer patients with the latest treatments, clinical trials and supportive care, close to home. • U.S. News’ 2025-2026 “Best Hospitals” report named SMH a High-Performing Hospital in multiple cancer conditions and procedures, including gynecological, lung, prostate and colon cancer surgeries; gastroenterology/gastrointestinal surgery and leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Building Hope for Oncology Outpatients The Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion, pictured above, opened on the Sarasota Campus in the Spring of 2026. Connected to the state-of-the-art inpatient Oncology Tower, the pavilion is the newest center of care in SMH’s expanding Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute. More than bricks and mortar, the pavilion is a place of hope and healing that supports a comprehensive array of outpatient cancer services.
Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion Responds to Growing Mental Health Care Needs Sarasota Memorial is the only hospital in Sarasota County providing behavioral health care for patients of all ages, from children as young as age 4 to adolescents, adults and seniors. With a full range of inpatient and outpatient services, the Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion on the Sarasota Campus ensures patients experience a seamless transition from hospitalization to outpatient care.
to Meet Community Needs
Enhancing Care through Leading Edge Research and Innovation
In 2025, the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute opened, bringing innovative research programs and medical education together in one facility to improve care and attract and retain health care professionals. Located on the Sarasota Campus, the new facility has freed up more space inside the adjacent hospital for bedside patient care. • T he Institute’s Research division has more than 160 clinical trials under way, connecting patients with groundbreaking therapies and treatments that are not yet widely available. Attracting New Physicians to the Region With communities around the nation facing shortages of doctors, the health system has proactively taken extra steps to attract providers to our region. In 2017, Sarasota Memorial launched Sarasota County’s first Graduate Medical Education program, in partnership with Florida State University’s College of Medicine. SMH now serves as a sought-after training ground for the next generation of physicians, providing advanced medical education to resident physicians and fellows in an expanding array of specialties. Physicians typically practice where they trained. To date, nearly half of the physicians who completed advanced training at Sarasota Memorial have opted to remain at SMH, while nearly 70% have stayed in Florida, helping to offset physician shortages. • S arasota Memorial’s nurse and pharmacy residency programs are also attracting new nurses and pharmacists to the region. Our reputation for excellence has boosted efforts to recruit staff. SMH was one of only 62 organizations worldwide to be named a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Winner for 2025. First Physicians Group Fills Gaps in Care 1:23
The health system’s First Physicians Group network of physician practices continually draws new providers to the region. The group now has 750 providers in 53 specialties delivering expert care in 74 locations throughout the Suncoast.
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In Fall of 2026, the health system will transition to Epic’s electronic health record and a new user-friendly portal called MyChart, making it easier for patients to schedule appointments, request medication refills and view test results. Widely used around the U.S., MyChart allows providers and patients to share and update health records securely in one place. Watch for more details from your First Physicians Group physician.
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Knee Arthroplasty Total Replacement Procedure date: May 29, 2026
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34,131 Surgeries Performed Annually
2,500 Medical Staff Members
750 First Physicians Group Providers
11,000+ Staff Region’s Largest Employer
Stepping Up to Meet the Demand for
Hospital to Open in North Port in 2028
Sarasota Memorial will open North Port’s first acute-care hospital in 2028 to meet health care needs in this fast-growing community. In November 2025, SMH broke ground on the new, $507 million hospital, located on Sumter Boulevard just off Interstate 75. Situated on a 32-acre site, SMH-North Port will be the third hospital SMH has built in its 101-year history. It will be nine stories tall, with an adjacent 3-story medical office building. The hospital will initially open in 2028 with 100 private patient suites, but is designed to grow with the community. The new facility will include space to quickly double capacity to 208 private patient suites, and can support more than 400 suites in the future.
Care in South Sarasota County
Sarasota Memorial Hospital – Venice Doubles in Size and Continues to Grow Since opening its doors in 2021, Sarasota Memorial Hospital – Venice has provided the south county community with access to the health system’s nationally recognized top-quality care, offering a full range of services. Sarasota Memorial’s investment in south Sarasota County has proven to be critical: SMH-Venice stepped up to fill the gap in care when the privately owned Shorepoint Venice Hospital abruptly closed in 2022, shortly before Hurricane Ian struck the region and caused a large surge in patients. SMH-Venice and SMH-Sarasota were among the few hospitals in the Southwest Florida region to remain fully open and operational before, during and after Hurricane Ian, as well as Hurricane Milton in 2024. To continue meeting the needs of the fast-growing region, SMH-Venice doubled its capacity in 2024, and now includes 212 private patient suites, 61 emergency care treatment rooms, and expanded surgical and radiology services. New Services Planned for Campus Plans are under way to open an inpatient rehabilitation facility at SMH-Venice in 2028 to provide the highest level of care to patients recovering from illness and injury. In 2027, an outpatient endoscopy and digestive health center will open adjacent to the Venice campus to treat the growing number of patients undergoing gastrointestinal procedures. • Like the SMH-Sarasota Campus, SMH-Venice has earned numerous honors for its care, including 5 stars for quality from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and the highest “A” grade for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital watchdog organization.
Essential Network of Services Fills Gaps in Care
Sarasota County’s Health Care Safety Net Sarasota Memorial is the only health system in Sarasota County providing: • Labor & Delivery, Newborn Intensive Care and Inpatient Pediatrics • Trauma Center caring for severely injured patients • Psychiatric services for patients of all ages • Community Specialty Clinic for eligible uninsured or underinsured residents Sarasota Memorial’s cost to provide a broad range of mission services, clinics and community programs topped $354 million in 2025.
New Services & Support for Pregnant Women
As a nationwide shortage of obstetricians delivering babies deepens, Sarasota Memorial — which is the only health system in Sarasota County delivering babies — has doubled down on its commitment to help local women. In 2025, the health system created the SMH Pregnancy Care Team, with experienced labor and delivery/postpartum nurses serving as OB navigators to help women access prenatal care and community resources and support. Contact the team at (941) 917-MOMS. In 2026, SMH opened a Pregnancy and Wellness Center to expand that service, establishing a medical home for expectant mothers who face challenges accessing care due to medical or financial circumstances. The center can be reached at (941) 262-5300.
Advocates Dedicated to Protecting Patient Autonomy and Addressing Concerns At Sarasota Memorial, we understand the challenges that patients and families experience during a health crisis. If you need information or have a question or concern about any area of the health system, please contact the Patient Advocacy Team, (941) 917-1311, or email patientadvocate@smh.com. Financial Assistance and Billing Questions Sarasota Memorial is committed to transparency in our billing and financial services. Our representatives and financial counselors are available to answer questions and address concerns, help with financial assistance and payment options, and provide personalized estimates. Call (941) 917-1540, or email billing-inquiries@smh.com.
Sarasota Memorial Network of Services
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301 & Urgent Care Center at Heritage Harbour 1040 River Heritage Blvd., Bradenton (941) 917-6440 2 Sarasota Memorial ER at Lakewood Ranch 7250 University Parkway ı (941) 262-3000 3 Sarasota Memorial Health Care Center at University Parkway 5350 University Parkway ı (941) 917-4777 4 Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Center at University Parkway 5360 University Parkway ı (941) 917-1234 5 Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology Center 5370 University Parkway ı (941) 917-7575 6 Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Center at St. Armands 500 John Ringling Blvd. ı (941) 262-4750 7 Sarasota Memorial Heart Pavilion 1540 S. Tamiami Trail ı (941) 917-7070 8 Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion 1941 Waldemere Street ı (941) 262-7500 9 Sarasota Memorial Hospital, ER & Trauma Center - Sarasota 1700 S. Tamiami Trail ı (941) 917-9000 ! Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion 1625 S. Osprey Avenue ı (941) 917-7760 # Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute 1880 Arlington St. ı (941) 917-2225 $ Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Center at Bee Ridge 5590 Bee Ridge Rd. ı (941) 262-4950 % Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Center at Stickney Point 6331 S. Tamiami Trail ı (941) 917-5678 & Sarasota Memorial Health Care Center at Clark Road 5880 Rand Blvd. ı (941) 917-5111 ( Sarasota Memorial HealthFit 5880 Rand Blvd. ı (941) 917-7000 ) Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 5640 Rand Blvd. ı (941) 917-4950 * Sarasota Memorial Health Care Center at Blackburn Point 929 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey ı (941) 261-4900 75 Clark Rd. Bee Ridge Rd. Fruitville Rd. University Pkwy. Sarasota Osprey Bradenton
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776 + Sarasota Memorial Hospital & ER - Venice 2600 Laurel Rd. E., North Venice (941) 261-9000 , Sarasota Memorial Health Care & Urgent Care Center at Venice 997 U.S. 41 Bypass N., Venice (941) 261-4250 777
Sarasota Memorial Urgent Care Center at South Venice 8431 Pointe Loop Dr., Venice (941) 261-6800 - Sarasota Memorial ER & Health Care Center at Toledo Blade 2345 Bobcat Village Center Road, North Port ı (941) 257-2800
Local Care, National Acclaim Sarasota Memorial’s quality and outcomes have been repeatedly recognized among the nation’s best, substantiated by independent reviews. • 5 Stars for Quality 2016 – 2026: The only hospital in Florida to receive the highest five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid in all reporting periods since the program’s inception in 2016. SMH-Venice also earned 5 stars from CMS.
• U.S. News Honors: U.S. News & World Report ranked SMH on its list of 50 best hospitals for obstetrics/gynecology and among the nation’s top performers in more than 20 types of care. SMH is the only hospital in the Suncoast region to earn a spot on U.S. News’ annual 50 Best Hospital list.
WORLD’S BEST HOSPITALS
• World’s Best Hospital 2019 – 2026: SMH has been included among Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals for 8 years, and is the only hospital on the Suncoast to make the list.
2026
• Straight A’s for Safety 2016 – 2025: The Leapfrog Group, an independent hospital watchdog organization, has assigned Sarasota Memorial a top “A” grade for patient safety on every hospital report card released
since 2016. SMH-Venice also has received straight A’s on all of its report cards. • Magnet Recognition 2003 – Present: SMH-Sarasota is the only hospital in the region to earn Magnet designation, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence. It is one of a select few hospitals to receive the 4-year designation five times, maintaining the prestigious status for more than two decades. • Exceptional Workplace: Sarasota Memorial was one of only 62 organizations worldwide to be named a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Winner for 2025. • Age-Friendly Recognition from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement: SMH has earned special designation from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement for following best practices to deliver safe, high-quality care to older adults. • Top Heart Hospital: Sarasota Memorial was named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals for 2026 for achieving superior survival rates with fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and lower readmission rates. Support World-Class Care The Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation is the philanthropic partner that supports Sarasota Memorial’s high level of care. For information or to make a gift, please call (941) 917-1286 or visit smhf.org.
Volunteers Make a Difference Sarasota Memorial’s volunteers provide vital support throughout the health system. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, contact: Sarasota (941) 917-1008 • volunteer-office@smh.com Venice (941) 261-1008 • venice-volunteer-office@smh.com
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