SARASOTA, Fla. (May 19, 2026) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has been named one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems® by Modern Healthcare and Premier Inc. today, placing Sarasota Memorial among the highest-performing health systems in the United States.
The annual study recognizes 15 standout health systems that demonstrate superior and sustained performance across a balanced scorecard that includes patient outcomes, operational performance and patient experience. This year’s awards recognize health systems that not only perform well overall, but also set the national benchmark for delivering consistent, balanced and sustainable high performance across all facilities in their network.
Sarasota Memorial ranked #3 in the small health system category (those with less than five hospitals in their system) placing it among an elite group that topped a field of 336 health systems representing more than 2,700 hospitals studied nationwide.
“This recognition reflects the extraordinary commitment of our physicians, nurses, staff and leadership team delivering world-class care for our community every day,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder. “To be ranked among the nation’s top 15 health systems is a tremendous honor and reinforces Sarasota Memorial’s mission to provide exceptional, patient-centered care while continually advancing quality, safety and innovation across our organization.”
Premier’s annual 15 Top Health Systems® study uses an objective, data-driven methodology based on publicly reported measures, including inpatient and 30-day mortality rates, complication and readmission rates, healthcare-associated infections, length of stay and overall hospital quality ratings. The annual study is not application-based, and health systems cannot opt in or out and cannot pay for inclusion, ensuring an objective and transparent process.
This year’s top performers outperformed peer health systems across all measured performance indicators included in the study while continuing to deliver high-quality care and operational efficiency.
Among other findings, this year’s analysis found the 15 benchmark health systems had:
- 22.3 percent lower inpatient mortality compared to peers.
- Fewer healthcare-associated infections, with a 28.6 percent difference in performance.
- Shorter average length of stay.
- Lower overall episode-of-care costs.
“Achieving Premier’s 15 Top Health Systems designation is a meaningful accomplishment that reflects a health system’s commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care,” said David Zito, President of Performance Services at Premier. “This recognition highlights Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s focus on improving outcomes, strengthening operations and advancing the overall patient experience.”
The comprehensive study, part of the broader 100 Top Hospitals program, was based on the care of Medicare patients assessed through publicly available data from Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) data, and CMS Care Compare performance measures. If the same standards were applied to all inpatients, Premier noted the impact could have been even greater.
The recognition adds to a growing list of national honors for Sarasota Memorial. Last week, both Sarasota Memorial hospitals earned the highest 5-Star quality ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota received the distinction for the 11th consecutive year, while SMH-Venice earned its first 5-Star rating since opening in 2021. Earlier this year, the Sarasota campus was named among Premier’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals®, highlighting the health system’s excellence in specialized cardiac care.
Systems included in the study must have at least two short-term, acute care hospitals and meet established inclusion criteria. For more information about the study, visit:
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/awards/mh-premier-100-top-hospitals-2026/
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 First Physician 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). The 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.