SARASOTA, Fla. (Aug. 27, 2026) – For patients recovering from a serious illness, injury or surgery, the goal of rehabilitation is more than getting stronger — it’s about helping people regain their independence and returning to the people and activities that matter most to them. Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has been recognized for helping patients do just that, earning a place among America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers in Newsweek’s 2026 ranking.
The annual ranking announced today recognizes the top 330 inpatient physical rehabilitation centers in the United States from more than 1,100 facilities nationwide. Developed in partnership with global data intelligence firm Statista, Newsweek ranks rehabilitation centers based on quality measures, accreditation and feedback from medical experts and patients.
“It’s an honor to see our rehabilitation team recognized for the difference they make in the lives of our patients,” said Maria DeCarlo, vice president of Sarasota Memorial Post-Acute and Rehabilitation Services. “Rehabilitation is about so much more than recovery from an illness or injury. It’s about helping people regain their independence, rebuild their confidence and return to the people, activities and lives that matter most to them.”
At Sarasota Memorial’s Rehabilitation Pavilion, patients receive individualized care from a hospital-based, multidisciplinary team that includes rehabilitation physicians, physical, occupational and speech therapists, as well as specially trained and certified rehabilitation nurses and technologists. The team develops personalized treatment plans to help patients restore function, mobility and quality of life.
The Rehabilitation Pavilion on the SMH-Sarasota campus offers a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, supporting patients throughout their recovery journey. Sarasota Memorial is expanding the 5-story pavilion from 60 to 65 beds while also building a new 4-story, 50-bed Rehabilitation Pavilion on its Venice campus. Scheduled to open in the summer of 2028 with shelled space that will allow it to expand to 75 beds in the future, the SMH-Venice Rehabilitation Pavilion will bring SMH’s nationally recognized inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation care closer to home for residents throughout south Sarasota County.
The Newsweek recognition adds to Sarasota Memorial’s record of quality and clinical excellence. Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report rated SMH among the nation’s high performing hospitals for specialized rehabilitation care and recognized the Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center among the nation’s best nursing homes for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota and Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice have earned the highest 5-Star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). SMH-Sarasota is the only hospital in Florida — and one of just 11 nationwide — to have earned a perfect 5-Star CMS rating every year since the federal program began in 2016.
For more information about Sarasota Memorial’s Rehabilitation Services, visit www.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 SMH First Physicians 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.