SARASOTA, Fla. (May 6, 2026) – Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital campuses earned “Straight A” grades from The Leapfrog Group today, reflecting a track record of preventing medical errors, accidents and infections. The honors, which reflect top performance reviews of both Sarasota Memorial hospitals, were announced today in Leapfrog’s Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Report Cards.
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’s two hospitals are among just 15% nationwide 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, and SMH-Venice has maintained it since it opened in 2021.
Sustaining an A over multiple years reflects a deep-rooted commitment to patient safety, with year after year of dependable care, Leapfrog noted.
Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder praised both campuses for raising the bar on patient safety and delivering consistently high-quality care—setting a standard not only for the Suncoast, but for health systems nationwide.
“This recognition underscores our enduring mission and the extraordinary commitment of our team,” Verinder said. “Patient safety is woven into everything we do, from the smallest interaction to the most complex care, and reflects a culture grounded in service and commitment to our growing community.”
In the spring and fall of each year, Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” to most general hospitals in the United States based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections. It is the only ratings program focused exclusively on how safe hospitals are for patients. To view the Fall 2026 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 about 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, 11,000 employees and 2 million patient visits annually across its network of care. Sarasota County’s largest employer, the community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, behavioral health hospital, skilled nursing facility and comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH’s flagship Sarasota hospital is the only Florida hospital to earn a perfect 5-Star rating from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — every year — since the federal rating program began in 2016.