Sarasota memorial receives top marks again

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has received another top ranking for 2012 in a HealthGrades ranking system that rates superior patient outcomes.

America’s 50 Best Hospitals rank among the top 1% of the nation’s 5,000-plus hospitals for consistent clinical excellence in HealthGrades annual studies. To be recognized with this distinction, hospitals must achieve the lowest risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates in the nation for the most consecutive years.

According to the HealthGrades study, if all U.S. hospitals had performed at the level of Sarasota Memorial, more than a half million Medicare deaths could have been prevented between 2000 and 2010. Based on an analysis of more than 150 million Medicare patient record, the study found that on average, patients treated at America’s 50 Best Hospitals had a nearly 30% lower risk of death.

Sarasota Memorial has been ranked among America’s 50 Best Hospitals each year since its inception in 2007. It is the only hospital in the Suncoast region (Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties) ever to make the list.

Unlike other hospital quality studies, HealthGrades evaluates hospitals solely on patients’ clinical outcomes: risk-adjusted mortality and in-hospital complications. Hospitals cannot opt out of the study, pay for their rankings or achieve extra points for reputation.

“This distinction is a testament to the dedication of our physicians and entire staff,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO Gwen MacKenzie, in a news release.

In the past year, Sarasota Memorial earned high marks from HealthGrades on multiple fronts, including its other two top awards – Patient Safety Excellence Award (top 5% for patient safety) and Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence (top 5% for clinical excellence).

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].