Sarasota Memorial Hospital ranked in top 50 nationwide

Sarasota Memorial Hospital was listed in the top 50 of the nation’s best hospitals in 2014 to 2015.

U.S. News & World Report publishes the “Best Hospitals” list every year. SMH has made the national list almost every year for 10 years.

“It’s never run of the mill … we’re as proud today as we were when we got it 10 years ago,” Kim Savage, hospital spokeswoman, said.

According to a press release, the hospital rose from 48th to 30th out of 5,000 in gynecological care this year and was recognized for high performance in eight other specialties: cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, nephrology, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology.

“It’s our frontline staff who make the difference. They’re the ones caring for the patients,” Savage said. “It’s their achievement and their passion and commitment that’s kept us on the list for the past 10 years.”

The hopsital also ranked fifth out of 256 hospitals in Florida and was ranked first in South Florida in overall care.

The rankings are based off objective information, such as patient survival rates and nurse staff levels.

“A Best Hospital has demonstrated its expertise in treating the most challenging patients,” Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings editor, said in the release.

The best hospital guide is published to provide information to patients who need more or specialized care because they have more complicated issues, rare conditions or other high-risk problems, the release said.

The full list can be found online.