Two hospitals in the Sarasota-Bradenton area were named among the nation’s “best hospitals for obstetric care” in a 2025 report released this week by U.S. News & World Report.
This ranking is based on voluntary submissions, with 817 of the country’s 2,674 maternity hospitals submitting data for evaluation. Approximately half of the hospitals that received this award are attracting attention.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Sarasota Memorial Hospital Sarasota campus are named to that list of “high performers.”
US News’ methodology for determining the best hospital for obstetric care includes cesarean section rates in low-risk pregnancies, rates of severe and unanticipated neonatal complications, exclusive breastfeeding rates, childbirth-friendly practices, and race. /Based on data such as reports on ethnic groups. Measures such as inequality.
U.S. News has launched its 2021 maternity hospital rankings.
Maternity rankings are published at https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/hospital-rateds/maternity.
Jennifer Winston, a medical data scientist at U.S. News, said in a prepared statement that the 2025 list evaluated a record number of hospitals.
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“High-performing hospitals provide exceptional care to expectant parents, have significantly lower rates of C-sections, and fewer unexpected and serious neonatal complications than hospitals not recognized by U.S. News.” “There is evidence that this disease is occurring,” she added.
Sarasota Memorial “deliveries a relatively large number of babies.”
US News noted that SMH Sarasota is “delivering relatively high numbers of babies.”
“This may reflect larger, busier delivery programs with more clinicians and more patients.”
“It has been our privilege to have helped bring more than 4,000 babies into this world, and we are proud to be the nation’s leader in providing safe, high-quality obstetric care,” said Dr. James Fiorica, Chief Medical Officer, Sarasota Memorial Hospital. It is an honor to be recognized as a hospital in its class.”
“Our expert team of clinicians works closely with all families and their support teams to provide a safe birth and a personally enriching birth experience.”
Earlier this year, U.S. News recognized SMH in 24 other specialties and types of care, including heart, stroke and rehabilitation care, hip, knee and spine surgery, cancer surgery and more. Specialty rankings and medical ratings are based primarily on data that hospitals report to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Although not included in U.S. News standards, the SMH Sarasota campus is the only hospital in the Sarasota-Manatee region with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for premature and critically ill newborns.
SMH-Sarasota is also nationally recognized as a referral center for high-risk births. The only hospital in the region, we have an experienced team of high-risk pregnancy specialists, neonatologists, and obstetric and pediatric hospital staff available 24 hours a day.
It is also the first hospital in Southwest Florida to be internationally recognized as a baby-friendly hospital as part of the World Health Organization’s efforts to promote best practices in breastfeeding and obstetric care.
Lakewood Ranch follows best practices for obstetric care
U.S. News noted that although Lakewood Ranch Medical Center has a relatively low number of births, it praised the program for its excellence in minimizing avoidable C-sections.
Like other high-performing hospitals, the hospital was recognized for its obstetric care, measured by factors such as the incidence of serious and unexpected neonatal complications. Childbirth friendly practices. Transparency regarding racial/ethnic disparities, among other things.
“We are honored to be recognized for providing patient-centered, best-practice obstetric care,” said Joel Hallam, chief of obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. “This designation recognizes the dedicated efforts of doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health care professionals to provide high-quality, compassionate care.”
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is a Joint Commission accredited acute care hospital serving patients in Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding areas. More than 750 physicians and clinicians provide comprehensive medical and healthcare services. Achieved Primary Stroke Designation, is a certified Chest Pain Center, and has received other prestigious quality awards including Advanced Primary Heart Stroke Center designation, Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, and Sepsis Certification by The Joint Commission. I’m doing it.
