U.S. News honor follows Newsweek’s recognition of health care system just weeks earlier
Once again, the Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has “been named among the nation’s best nursing homes, earning the highest possible ratings for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care” in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Nursing Homes rankings, released on Nov. 10, the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) has announced.
“The recognition adds to a growing list of national quality honors” for the system and its nursing and rehabilitation center, a news release points out. Both SMH hospitals — in Sarasota and Venice — in the “region’s only public, community-owned health system,” also have been “recognized among the nation’s best by U.S. News, Newsweek, Forbes, Leapfrog Group and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, among other independent rating organizations, for excellence in patient care, quality and safety,” the release adds.
The honor this week marks the fifth consecutive year that “Sarasota Memorial’s skilled nursing facility has been nationally recognized by U.S. News, reinforcing the team’s commitment to providing high-quality care for patients recovering from hospitalization, surgery or illness, as well as residents who need ongoing nursing care and support,” the release notes.
“Whether they’re recovering from a serious illness or need a place to call home, families trust us to care for their loved ones during some of life’s most vulnerable moments,” said Maria DeCarlo, vice president of Sarasota Memorial Post-Acute and Rehabilitation Services, in the release. “Earning top ratings consistently in both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care demonstrates the extraordinary dedication of our team and their commitment to helping every patient and resident achieve the best possible quality of life.” DeCarlo added.
“To identify the nation’s best nursing homes, U.S. News evaluated nearly 15,000 facilities nationwide, assessing key indicators such as hospital readmission rates, staffing levels, health inspection results and other quality and care measures,” the release explains. “Facilities were rated High Performing, As Expected or Evaluated, with the highest-performing nursing homes recognized for excellence in short-term rehabilitation, long-term care or both,” it says
“Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was among just 7% of nursing homes evaluated that earned High Performing ratings in both categories,” the release points out.
What sets the nation’s best nursing homes apart
On the basis of U.S. News’ 2027 analysis, the release continues, “the nation’s top-performing nursing homes consistently outperform national averages on several important measures of quality and care:
• “19% fewer emergency room visits: Short-term rehabilitation patients at top-performing nursing homes experience fewer ER visits than the national average.
• “21% fewer hospital readmissions: Long-term care residents at Best Nursing Homes are less likely to require hospitalization compared with residents at other facilities.
• “19% more nursing staff time: Top-performing facilities provide more total staffing hours per resident per day than the national average.
• “Twice as much physical therapy: Leading skilled nursing facilities provide approximately double the physical therapy time per resident per day compared with the national average.
“For patients and families evaluating their options, U.S. News noted that choosing a skilled nursing facility recognized with its Best Nursing Home designation provides a trusted starting point to discuss in consultation with their healthcare provider,” the release adds.
“Earning a High Performing rating from U.S. News reflects a continuous, facility-wide commitment to superior resident care,” said Jordan Derk, Ph.D., senior care researcher at U.S. News, in the release “When families see this distinction, they can feel confident that this skilled nursing facility has demonstrated exceptional outcomes.”
“Located at 5640 Rand Blvd. in Sarasota, the Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center provides around-the-clock skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term residential care,” the release points out. “Its multidisciplinary team serves approximately 100 residents, providing personalized care and support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
Moreover, the release says, “The nursing home’s latest recognition adds to a longstanding record of quality. In addition to five consecutive years of recognition by U.S. News,” the facility repeatedly has been named among America’s Best Nursing Homes by Newsweek, and it and earned 5-star quality ratings from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
For information about the Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, call 941-917-4950 or visit smh.com/rehab.