SMH Achieves 5-Star Rating from CMS for 8th Year Running

July 26, 2023 – Sarasota

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System announced today that its flagship Sarasota hospital was awarded a prestigious 5-star rating from the U.S. Centers 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.

“Every day our doctors, nurses, and support staff go above and beyond to ensure our patients receive exceptional care,” she said. “The rankings and awards our health system receives speak volumes about how much our staff cares for our patients and creating a health system everyone in our community can be proud of.” 

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.