SARASOTA (Nov. 13, 2025) – Both Sarasota Memorial hospital campuses received top marks for how well they prevent medical errors, accidents and infections in The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2025 Hospital Safety Report Cards released today.
It is the latest in a streak of straight A’s earned by Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s flagship SMH-Sarasota campus and its newer SMH-Venice campus, which opened in November 2021.
Issued in the spring and fall of each year to approximately 3,000 general hospitals across the nation, Leapfrog’s safety grades are based on annual hospital survey data and patient safety measures obtained from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
SMH-Sarasota is the only hospital on the Suncoast, and among approximately 10% in the nation, to earn Leapfrog’s elite “Straight A” designation. The Sarasota campus has received straight A’s since it began participating in the Leapfrog survey in 2016.
“A small number of hospitals have consistently achieved "A" grades – an impressive feat,” Leapfrog noted in its fall 2025 report. “These hospitals are denoted with the “Straight A’s” logo in recognition of their achievement of the highest standards of patient safety year after year. We hope all hospitals will strive to offer this level of dependable care.”
The SMH-Venice campus has also earned A’s in every reporting period since it became eligible to participate in Leapfrog’s safety survey. It will be eligible for Leapfrog’s “Straight A” designation after five consecutive grading periods.
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System CEO David Verinder commended both campuses for setting the benchmark for safe, high-caliber care -- not only on the Suncoast, but across the nation.
“SMH has been caring for our growing community for 100 years. This recognition reflects our organization’s enduring mission and our entire team’s unwavering dedication to the growing community we serve,” Verinder said. “From the smallest detail to the most complex procedure, patient safety is not just a priority – it’s part of our culture and deeply rooted public mission.”
To view the Fall 2025 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 growing network of care. Sarasota County’s largest employer, the community-owned health system now includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a comprehensive cancer institute, a rehabilitation hospital, behavioral health hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. To learn more about SMH’s storied history, we encourage you to visit the hospital’s centennial webpage at smh.com/100.