SARASOTA, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2026) – Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has once again been named among the nation’s best nursing homes, earning the highest possible ratings for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Nursing Homes rankings released today.
The recognition adds to a growing list of national quality honors for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and its nursing & rehab center. The region's only public, community-owned health system, both hospitals also have been recognized among the nation’s best by U.S. News, Newsweek, Forbes, Leapfrog Group and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, among other independent rating organizations, for excellence in patient care, quality and safety.
Today’s honor marks the fifth consecutive year Sarasota Memorial's skilled nursing facility has been nationally recognized by U.S. News, reinforcing the team’s commitment to providing high-
quality care for patients recovering from hospitalization, surgery or illness, as well as residents who need ongoing nursing care and support.
"Whether they're recovering from a serious illness or need a place to call home, families trust us to care for their loved ones during some of life's most vulnerable moments," said Maria DeCarlo, vice president of Sarasota Memorial Post-Acute and Rehabilitation Services. "Earning top ratings consistently in both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care demonstrates the extraordinary dedication of our team and their commitment to helping every patient and resident achieve the best possible quality of life."
To identify the nation's best nursing homes, U.S. News evaluated nearly 15,000 facilities nationwide, assessing key indicators such as hospital readmission rates, staffing levels, health inspection results and other quality and care measures. Facilities were rated High Performing, As Expected or Evaluated, with the highest-performing nursing homes recognized for excellence in short-term rehabilitation, long-term care or both.
Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was among just 7% of nursing homes evaluated that earned High Performing ratings in both categories.
What Sets the Nation’s Best Nursing Homes Apart
According to U.S. News’ 2027 analysis, the nation's top-performing nursing homes consistently outperform national averages on several important measures of quality and care:
- 19% fewer emergency room visits: Short-term rehabilitation patients at top-performing nursing homes experience fewer ER visits than the national average.
- 21% fewer hospital readmissions: Long-term care residents at Best Nursing Homes are less likely to require hospitalization compared with residents at other facilities.
- 19% more nursing staff time: Top-performing facilities provide more total staffing hours per resident per day than the national average.
- Twice as much physical therapy: Leading skilled nursing facilities provide approximately double the physical therapy time per resident per day compared with the national average.
For patients and families evaluating their options, U.S. News noted that choosing a skilled nursing facility recognized with its Best Nursing Home designation provides a trusted starting point to discuss in consultation with their healthcare provider.
“Earning a High Performing rating from U.S. News reflects a continuous, facility-wide commitment to superior resident care,” said Jordan Derk, Ph.D., senior care researcher at U.S. News. “When families see this distinction, they can feel confident that this skilled nursing facility has demonstrated exceptional outcomes.”
Located at 5640 Rand Blvd. in Sarasota, Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center provides around-the-clock skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term residential care. Its multidisciplinary team serves approximately 100 residents, providing personalized care and support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The nursing home's latest recognition adds to a longstanding record of quality. In addition to five consecutive years of recognition by U.S. News, the facility has also repeatedly been named among America's Best Nursing Homes by Newsweek and earned 5-star quality ratings from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
For information about Sarasota Memorial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, call 941-917-4950 or visit smh.com/rehab.
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida's greatest breadth and depth of care, with about 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, 11,000 employees and 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care. Sarasota County's largest employer, the community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice (and third under construction in North Port), freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and First Physician Group primary and specialty care practices. Founded in 1925, SMH's flagship Sarasota campus also is home to the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion and Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute. Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota and Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice have earned the highest 5-Star quality ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). SMH-Sarasota is the only Florida hospital - and one of just 11 in the nation - to earn a perfect 5-Star rating from CMS every year since the federal rating program began in 2016.