SMH-Venice Earns National Recognition, Moves Full Speed Ahead with Major Expansion Projects
Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice recently received Advanced Hip & Knee Replacement Certification from DNV, an international health care quality and accrediting organization. The certification recognizes excellence in joint replacement surgery and the full spectrum of diagnostics, surgical services and therapies related to hip and knee care.
Sarasota Memorial’s flagship Sarasota campus has long been recognized for advanced hip and knee replacement. Months before opening the new hospital in late 2021, the Venice team completed all the steps necessary to emulate the program and create a clinical environment to support safe, high-quality care.
“We built technologically advanced, stainless steel operating rooms, assembled a highly skilled orthopedic team, and equipped them with the tools and resources to promote the best outcomes for our patients,” said SMH-Venice President Sharon Roush. “Achieving advanced certification is a reflection of the hard work our team put into this program and the health system’s ongoing commitment to the health of our community.”
To maintain DNV Advanced Hip & Knee Replacement Certification, hospitals undergo regular surveys and audits to validate their position as a leader in joint replacement surgery and demonstrate compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Conditions of Participation and adherence to guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
“Achieving certification shows commitment to excellence,” said Kelly Proctor, president of DNV Healthcare USA, Inc. “It helps demonstrate to your community that you are performing at the highest level.”
Since opening in 2021, SMH-Venice has earned a number of honors for its high quality of care, including:
• The American Heart Association’s Stroke Silver Plus Award, the highest level that can be achieved in a hospital’s first year of participation. Part of its national “Get With The Guidelines” annual quality review, the heart association recognizes hospitals for following best practices in stroke care.
• DNV Primary Stroke Center certification
• Level 1 Adult Cardiovascular Services designation
• American College of Radiology Accreditation for Mammography, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, CT and MRI
Campus Expansion Well Under Way
The Venice hospital also recently celebrated the half-way point in the construction of its new, 5-story patient tower.
The rendering above shows SMH-Venice expansion plans, marked in green.
When complete next year, the tower will add 102 new private patient rooms to the Venice hospital, with dedicated units for surgical, cardiac and orthopedic patients, and expanded space for clinical and support departments. The new bed tower is slated to open by next summer with 68 new private rooms, followed later in the year by an additional 34-bed patient care unit also under way.
“This event is a milestone not only for Sarasota Memorial but for the entire community,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder. “The new tower will nearly double the Venice hospital’s capacity, to a total of 212 beds, and help meet the increasing needs in the community.”
While the hospital’s initial size was limited due to a state law that was in effect at the time of its development, Sarasota Memorial leaders were planning the third tower even before the original two towers opened in November 2021. The abrupt closure of ShorePoint Venice Hospital last summer added to the strain in the community, and prompted Sarasota Memorial to move forward with additional expansion projects that will double the capacity of SMH-Venice’s surgical and emergency departments. Those projects also are expected to be complete by the end of next year.
Leaders of SMH-Venice and the health system, along with physicians, nurses, hospital staff and members of the design/build team signed commemorative construction beams that will become a permanent part of the expansion.
The expansion of SMH-Venice is just the beginning of a series of vital projects that will help expand access to care in south Sarasota County. The health system is in the due diligence phase of planning for medical campuses in North Port, and developing a new urgent care center in South Venice.