SARASOTA, Fla. (March 24, 2026) — Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) has been named among America’s “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care” for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to mothers and newborns.
The annual rankings by Money magazine highlight 75 top-performing hospitals demonstrating superior outcomes and patient-centered care. Hospitals that made the list are recognized for providing the best outcomes across a full range of maternity care, from low-risk births to complex maternal, fetal and newborn procedures, after a comparative review of approximately 4,000 facilities and thousands of data points.
“This recognition reflects the extraordinary dedication of our physicians, nurses and care teams who support families through one of life’s most important moments,” said Sarasota Memorial Chief Medical Officer James Fiorica, MD. “At Sarasota Memorial, we are committed to providing a safe, compassionate and personalized experience for every mother and baby we serve.”
Sarasota Memorial operates the only two hospitals delivering babies in Sarasota County. Its experienced, multidisciplinary team of obstetricians and obstetrical nurses, nurse midwives, maternal-fetal medicine specialists and neonatologists ensured the safe delivery and care of nearly 5,000 newborns in 2025. Sarasota Memorial’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit offers the highest level of care in the region for premature or critically ill newborns. Other advanced services include a dedicated Obstetrical Emergency Care Center with 24/7 board-certified OB hospitalists, a dedicated inpatient unit and specialized services for high-risk pregnancies and multiples, and advanced resources through its affiliation with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Designed around a family-centered approach, SMH offers private birthing suites, a dedicated mother-baby unit that keeps moms and infants together, extensive breastfeeding support from certified lactation consultants, and a full range of prenatal education, postpartum services and ongoing support—ensuring mothers and babies receive safe, personalized care every step of the way.
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, 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.