SMH Achieves Federal Government’s Highest 5-Star Quality Rating

August 2, 2024 | Sarasota

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s flagship Sarasota campus was awarded the prestigious 5-star quality rating today from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the ninth consecutive year.

Of nearly 5,000 U.S. hospitals evaluated, roughly 8 percent earned the highest 5-star rating in CMS’ 2024 update today. SMH-Sarasota remained the only hospital in the Suncoast region to attain the 5-star rating this year, and the only hospital in Florida to repeatedly earn five stars every year since the CMS rating program began 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. Typically, CMS reviews up to three years of quality data before issuing a star rating. SMH-Venice, which opened in late 2021, received a 4-star rating in 2024, the first time the new hospital was eligible for review.

David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, emphasized SMH’s dedication to excellence through its exemplary rankings at both campuses. He highlighted the repeated 5-star performance at the Sarasota Campus and 4-star rating at the Venice Campus as testament to the health system’s commitment to providing world-class care to the community.

“I am incredibly proud of the leaders, clinicians and staff at SMH who continue to set the standard for quality healthcare at a state and national level,” Verinder said. “We continue to build on our culture of excellence by investing in advanced technologies and leading-edge facilities, but it’s the efforts of this team that make it all possible and ensure the best care for our patients.”

For more information about the 2024 CMS Star Ratings, visit medicare.gov/care-compare.