SMH Named Best Hospital for Maternity

December 11, 2024 | Sarasota

Sarasota Memorial Hospital – Sarasota Campus was named among the nation’s “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care” in a 2025 report issued by U.S. News & World Report today.

Sarasota Memorial was among just 15% of 2,674 maternity hospitals in the nation that made the 2025 list. To be recognized, hospitals had to demonstrate superior performance on multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families, including: newborn complication rates; C-section rates in low-risk women; the number of births scheduled too early in pregnancy; whether hospitals gave women the option for vaginal births after cesarean; and how hospitals supported mother-baby bonding and breastfeeding.

“It is our privilege to help bring more than 4,000 new babies into our world, and an honor to be recognized among the nation’s top hospitals for safe, high-quality maternity care,” said Sarasota Memorial Chief Medical Officer James Fiorica, MD. “Our expert team of clinicians work closely with every family and their support team to provide a safe delivery and personally fulfilling birth experience.”

Earlier this year, U.S. News recognized SMH in 24 other specialties and types of care, including heart, stroke and rehabilitation care, hip, knee and spine surgery, cancer surgery, and more. The specialty rankings and care ratings are based on large part on data hospitals report to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

Because of the younger patient population in the maternity study, the “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care” rating is based on clinical and quality data voluntarily submitted by hospitals in an annual survey analyzed by the U.S. News health team. This year, 817 hospitals submitted maternity data for evaluation, with roughly half named high performers and spotlighted in its 2025 edition of “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.”

“With a record-breaking number of hospitals evaluated, U.S. News’ 2025 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care ratings represent the most comprehensive resource yet for expectant parents,” said Jennifer Winston, Ph.D., health data scientist at U.S. News. “High-performing hospitals showcase exceptional care for expectant parents, demonstrating significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.”

According to U.S. News, hospitals rated “Best” for Maternity Care:

– Are 47% more likely to be designated as “Baby-Friendly” by Baby Friendly USA, indicating a hospital has taken important steps to support breastfeeding.

– Have C-section rates 22% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.

– Have severe unexpected newborn complication rates 44% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.

– Have episiotomy rates 33% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.

– Have breast milk feeding rates 12% higher compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.

– Are 13% more likely to report race/ethnicity data for both C-section and severe unexpected newborn complications compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.

Sarasota Memorial operates the only two hospitals in Sarasota County that deliver babies, and the flagship Sarasota hospital is the only one in the Suncoast region with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for premature babies and critically ill newborns. 

While “Best Hospitals for Maternity” rankings do not evaluate specialty care for women with complicated pregnancies, SMH-Sarasota also has been nationally recognized as a referral center for high-risk deliveries as well. It is the only hospital in the area with an experienced team of high-risk pregnancy specialists, neonatologists and obstetrical and pediatric hospitalists available 24/7. It also is the first hospital in the southwest Florida to earn international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Hospital, part of a World Health Organization initiative that promotes breastfeeding and best practices in maternity care.

The U.S. News’ 2025 maternity rankings are published at:  https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/hospital-ratings/maternity