SARASOTA (May 1, 2025) – Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital campuses continued earning top marks in The Leapfrog Group’s hospital safety report cards released today.
Issued in the spring and fall of each year, Leapfrog assigns the letter grades A, B, C, D and F to all general hospitals based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.
In today's report cards, SMH-Sarasota continued the straight "A" streak it has held since 2016, while the newer SMH-Venice hospital, which opened in late 2021, earned its third A after receiving consecutive A's in its first two grading periods last year. (Hospitals must be open for two years before Leapfrog begins assigning them safety grades).
"I couldn't be prouder of our teams for their continued diligence and dedication to our patients and community," said Sarasota Memorial Health Care System CEO David Verinder. "As the region's largest public health system, and only not-for-profit health system on the Suncoast, we have been serving our growing community for 100 years. Our physicians, nurses and staff working on the front lines and behind the scenes are providing safe, high-quality care in nearly 2 million patient visits a year, and they have been doing that consistently, year after year."
An independent rating organization, Leapfrog bases its safety grades on hospital survey data and patient safety outcomes and measures obtained from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Hospitals cannot pay for the honor or opt out of the safety review. Approximately 12% of hospitals nationwide have received straight A's in Leapfrog's last five reporting periods (since spring 2023).
"All hospitals should be proud to earn an A, but they should not rest on that laurel. Patient safety is a relentless, never-ending quest to put patients first," said Leah Binder, president and CEO, The Leapfrog Group. "That's why Leapfrog is highlighting the hospitals across the U.S. that have earned straight A's for over two years. Sustaining an A over multiple years reflects a deep-rooted commitment to patient safety."
To view the spring 2025 safety grades, results, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.
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 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 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, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, a behavioral health hospital, a skilled nursing facility and a comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2025 and encouraging community members to visit smh.com/100 throughout the year for centennial events and updates.