Sarasota Memorial operates only two hospitals in Sarasota County that deliver babies
Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Sarasota Campus was named among the nation’s “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care” in a 2025 report issued by U.S. News & World Report on Dec. 10, the health care system has announced.
Sarasota Memorial (SMH)was among just 15% of 2,674 maternity hospitals in the nation that made the 2025 list, a news release points out. “To be recognized, hospitals had to demonstrate superior performance on multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families,” including the following, the release says: “newborn complication rates; C-section rates in low-risk women; the number of births scheduled too early in pregnancy; whether hospitals gave women the option for vaginal births after cesarean; and how hospitals supported mother-baby bonding and breastfeeding.”
“It is our privilege to help bring more than 4,000 new babies into our world, and an honor to be recognized among the nation’s top hospitals for safe, high-quality maternity care,” said Sarasota Memorial Chief Medical Officer Dr. James Fiorica in the release. “Our expert team of clinicians work closely with every family and their support team to provide a safe delivery and personally fulfilling birth experience,” he added.
“Earlier this year,” the release continues, “U.S. News recognized SMH in 24 other specialties and types of care,” including heart, stroke and rehabilitation care; hip, knee and spine surgery; and cancer surgery. The specialty rankings and care ratings are based largely on data hospitals report to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the release explains.
“Because of the younger patient population in the maternity study,” the release says, “the ‘Best Hospitals for Maternity Care’ rating is based on clinical and quality data voluntarily submitted by hospitals in an annual survey analyzed by the U.S. News health team. This year, 817 hospitals submitted maternity data for evaluation, with roughly half named high performers and spotlighted in its 2025 edition of ‘Best Hospitals for Maternity Care,’ ” the release adds.
“With a record-breaking number of hospitals evaluated, U.S. News’ 2025 ‘Best Hospitals for Maternity Care’ ratings represent the most comprehensive resource yet for expectant parents,” said Jennifer Winston, a health data scientist with U.S. News, in the release. “High-performing hospitals showcase exceptional care for expectant parents, demonstrating significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S. News,” Winston added.
“According to U.S. News, hospitals rated ‘Best’ for Maternity Care” had the following features:
- “Are 47% more likely to be designated as ‘Baby-Friendly’ by Baby Friendly USA, indicating a hospital has taken important steps to support breastfeeding.
- “Have C-section rates 22% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
- “Have severe unexpected newborn complication rates 44% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
- “Have episiotomy rates 33% lower compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
- “Have breast milk feeding rates 12% higher compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.
- “Are 13% more likely to report race/ethnicity data for both C-section and severe unexpected newborn complications compared with maternity care hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.”
The release points out, as well, that “Sarasota Memorial operates the only two hospitals in Sarasota County that deliver babies, and the flagship Sarasota hospital is the only one in the Suncoast region with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for premature babies and critically ill newborns.”
It further notes, “While ‘Best Hospitals for Maternity’ rankings do not evaluate specialty care for women with complicated pregnancies, SMH-Sarasota also has been nationally recognized as a referral center for high-risk deliveries … It is the only hospital in the area with an experienced team of high-risk pregnancy specialists, neonatologists and obstetrical and pediatric hospitalists available 24/7.”
Moreover, the release continues, SMH-Sarasota is the first hospital in Southwest Florida “to earn international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Hospital, part of a World Health Organization initiative that promotes breastfeeding and best practices in maternity care.”
The U.S. News’ 2025 maternity rankings are available at https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/hospital-ratings/maternity.