For 2007, the hospital ranks among America’s 50 best hospitals in two specialties – cancer and geriatric care. U.S. News ranked Sarasota Memorial 45th for cancer care and 48th for geriatrics.
Out of 5,462 hospitals evaluated, only 173 – just 3 percent – are ranked in one or more of the 16 specialties in this year's "America's Best Hospitals" issue. Most that did are teaching hospitals and major referral centers, and the magazine notes, accustomed to seeing the toughest patients and conducting bench-to-bedside research that advances the state of the art.
“We’re delighted to be listed among the nation’s best hospitals for the fourth year in a row, and again in more than one specialty,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO Gwen MacKenzie. “Our doctors, nurses, researchers and staff are committed to providing the same level of care our patients expect from the nation’s very best hospitals, and this is a testament to that dedication.”
U.S. News has been evaluating care in the nation’s hospitals since 1989 to help patients with complex medical conditions find the best hospital near their community.
“When confronted with a difficult or complex condition, selecting a hospital with a solid track record could be nothing less than lifesaving,”
The magazine ranking combines three equally weighted elements: reputation, mortality rate and care-related factors, such as nursing and advanced services.
Hospital rankings are based in part on publicly reported Medicare data and include quality of patient care, mortality rates and other factors, such as nurse-to-patient ratio, availability of advanced technology, number of procedures performed and number of discharges. However, the non-clinical factors, such as national reputation, also affect a hospital’s rankings, and can make it more challenging for non-academic medical centers to achieve and maintain a top spot.
The U.S. News rankings are one of many quality recognitions hospitals promote to help consumers compare hospital services. Other national quality awards Sarasota Memorial has achieved in recent years include: Solucient’s 100 Top Cardiac Hospitals (five years in a row) and Magnet Nursing Services Recognition, the nation’s highest honor for excellence in nursing, given by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center. No other hospital in the region has ranked in the U.S. News study or received Magnet designation.
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Best Hospitals 2007 U.S. News & World Report 2007
Out of 5,462 hospitals only 173 made it in to the rankings in at least one of the 16 specialties . .
