SARASOTA, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2026) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) opened a new Pregnancy and Wellness Center today to ensure that every expecting mother, regardless of her medical or financial circumstances, has access to compassionate support and expert prenatal care.
High-risk and underinsured patients, in particular, often struggle to find appropriate medical support during pregnancy. The center is designed to meet a critical need in the area, as a nationwide shortage of obstetricians delivering babies deepens and hospitals increasingly close their labor and delivery (L&D) units due to financial strains, low Medicaid reimbursement rates, and staffing issues. Reports indicate that as many as 86% of rural Florida hospitals have stopped delivering babies, creating "maternity care deserts" and forcing women to travel long distances for care, which increases health risks.
“Access to safe, high quality prenatal care is a fundamental necessity for a healthy community,” said James Fiorica, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. “As the region’s safety net hospital and only one delivering babies in Sarasota County, Sarasota Memorial is doubling down on our commitment to help women through this crisis. The opening of this center, along with the support of our Pregnancy Care Team, ensures expecting mothers in our region will have a medical home, regardless of their medical or financial circumstances, and receive the compassionate support and expert care they deserve.”
Board certified obstetrician/gynecologist Anne Rainville, MD, serves as the medical director of the center, leading the team of clinicians dedicated to providing comprehensive care for women throughout their pregnancy journey, from prenatal services through postpartum support.
Anyone who is pregnant, and especially those having a hard time establishing care or who are new to the area, are welcome – even if they have no health insurance. Patients may begin services with a self-referral or through a provider referral. All SMH/FPG participating insurance plans are accepted. Self-pay and sliding scale pay options are available for those who are underinsured or uninsured. Medicaid application assistance will also be provided for those who qualify.
The SMH Pregnancy and Wellness Center is located on Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Clark Road campus, 5880 Rand Blvd., Suite 206, Sarasota. For information, call 941-262-5300.
Last year, Sarasota Memorial created the Pregnancy Care Team, with three experienced labor and delivery/postpartum nurses serving as OB navigators and providing free guidance and referrals to support women throughout their pregnancy. Since the team formed last summer, the clinicians have helped hundreds of pregnant women in the community secure ongoing prenatal care. The new Pregnancy and Wellness Center expands upon that service and support.
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.