Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Description

About Sarasota Memorial
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System an 806bed regional medical center is the among the largest acute care public health systems in Florida With more than 4000 staff and 1000 volunteers it is one of Sarasota Countys largest employers A community hospital founded in 1925 Sarasota Memorial is governed by the ninemember elected Sarasota County Public Hospital Board It is a fullservice health system with specialized expertise in heart vascular cancer and neuroscience services as well as a network of outpatient centers longterm care and rehabilitation among its many programs Sarasota Memorial is the only provider of obstetrical services and Level III neonatal intensive care in Sarasota County

Mission
To provide health care services which excel in Caring Quality and Innovation

Vision
Our community will be served by the best health care system in America SMHCS will be the best place to be a patient the best place to work and the best place to practice medicine Our extraordinary people our innovative clinical technology and our effective use of information systems will set us apart

Values
To create an environment that supports and rewards

Caring and Compassion click to view our nurses sharing special moments

Excellence

Teamwork and Trust

Mutual Respect and Recognition

Cost EffectiveEthical Behavior

Quality
To deliver services that result in desired outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge

History

The hospital is the waking reality of quotthe dream of many made possible by the intensive efforts of a few and the generosity of allquot wrote the Sarasota Herald Nov 2 1925 to announce the opening of the first modern hospital in Sarasota County

In tracing the history of Sarasota Memorial Hospital we find that it was and is an institution constantly growing and changing to meet the communitys health care needs From simple canvas tents to the burgeoning modern campus we have today Sarasota Memorial Hospital owes its reputation success and very existence to the efforts of its champions through seven decades

In 1921 faced with a growing need for organized health care residents of Sarasota began raising funds to build a hospital Local residents especially women worked tirelessly until the money was raised to begin construction While the women conducted their yearlong fundraising campaign a quottent hospitalquot and a temporary sixbed facility treated patients and emergency cases It was said that no businessman dared to venture down Main Street without first pulling his pockets inside out thereby making a public statement that he had no more to give for the hospital

On Nov 2 1925 the 32bed Sarasota Hospital opened on Hawthorne Street It cost 40000 to build and was operated by the Sarasota County Welfare Association

The following years brought several changes to the new facility A school for nurses was established in 1926 At that time the hospital only had 10 employees to work all three shifts In 1927 construction on a hospital annex began It was completed later that year and since the annex moved the hospital into the city limits the facility was turned over to the City of Sarasota and was renamed Sarasota Municipal Hospital

With the onset of the Great Depression Sarasota experienced a period of economic trouble during which few improvements were made to the hospital However when the economy rebounded the hospital would once again start to grow By the 1930s Sarasota Municipal Hospital had expanded to 100 beds a nurses home garage operating room and an annex which accommodated patient overflow

The 1940s saw still more changes By 1946 other improvements included a surgical suite enlarged garage a kitchen and dining room a new concrete block wing and the first airconditioning unit

In 1948 an Auxiliary was formed to provide extra services and badly needed equipment One hundred women made up the first group of Auxilians and would help to renovate the childrens ward and nurses home

In 1949 an Enabling Act was passed by the Florida Legislature that created a special hospital district Following on the heels of that act the Hospital Board was formed Nine local residents were appointed by the governor to serve on the new board The community hospitals longstanding public notforprofit mission was not only reaffirmed it was grounded in state law And its policy makers were now accountable to those who benefited from the hospitals mission the residents of Sarasota County

Post War Shifts

75 Years of Community Service
In 1950 Don Laurent began a 25year career as an administrator of Sarasota Municipal Hospital In that year there were fewer than 75 employees and 30 physicians The original hospital which had been structured like a house was slowly being converted to medical uses A kitchen became a laboratory a broom closet a dark room and outside wooden stairs led to the operating room

A constant resident of the hospital during this time was a large black cat named Casper It was rumored that Casper was welcomed because he kept other unwanted fourlegged creatures at bay In later years Caspers descendants would still be spotted around the hospital

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals JCAH was formed in 1952 and the hospital received its first of many accreditations two years later That began a relationship with the independent national organization that would objectively rate how Sarasota Memorial manages and delivers health care and provide a benchmark for improving services In 1953 the nurses home was converted for hospital use increasing the number of beds to 125

In 1954 Sarasota Municipal Hospital was deeded to the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board and renamed Sarasota Memorial Hospital in honor of the veterans from both world wars

On October 16 1955 dedication ceremonies were held for the new south wing of the fivestory Sarasota Memorial Hospital which now boasted 225 beds including those in the old hospital The facility had the distinction of being one of the few fully airconditioned hospitals in the South During the 1950s services would expand to include food service a blood bank tumor clinic physical therapy obstetrics pediatric and psychiatric units

Despite extensive growth the hospital simply could not keep up with the demand for health care By 1956 the front steps were routinely marked with quotno vacancyquot signs and hospital corridors were filled with patients Near the end of the decade a new fivestory wing was built and in use

Techhnological and Economic Evolution

Technological and economic revolutions in the 1960s brought a new perspective to health care An infusion of dollars from medical insurance coverage and government entitlement programs fueled the hospitals new ventures including the move into the computer age with the addition of an IBM Ramac system in 1962 The hospitals childcare center for employees children was a first in the state it would be 20 years before other hospitals would routinely provide this service

In 1964 the Century Club began with 20 members who each pledged 100 a year to purchase unbudgeted equipment for the hospital Throughout the 1960s the hospital continued to expand with such new services as ambulant care and cardiac intensive care The Retter wing was completed in 1969 and made possible through a 1 million gift from Mr and Mrs Earl Retter It housed 92 beds a medical library and conference room The hospitals Chiller Building was also built during this decade Amid this booming growth the hospitals original 32bed building was razed

In the 1970s Sarasota Memorial continued adding new services including cardiac catheterization ambulatory outpatient care roundtheclock food services and the EMI brain scanner The East Tower was completed in 1976 and allowed patients to be transported to or from the hospital by helicopter The Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation was also founded in this decade raising more than 1 million in pledges and gifts in its first year
A hospital employee since 1958 HJ Floyd was named Executive Director in 1975 During his 10 years in this role he helped lead the hospital into an age where technology was changing every day

The 1980s brought two new perspectives as the country focused on wellness and forprofit hospital companies defined health care as a competitive marketplace Sarasota Memorial responded by stretching its traditional mission and campus to include new psychiatric and geriatric facilities A new Open Heart Surgery Center opened in 1983 and reached the 100patient mark within four months The Waldemere Tower opened followed by the Cape Outpatient Surgery Center and Lakeside Pavilion for mental health care pushing the hospitals bed capacity to 825 An MRI unit was purchased a second heart cath lab was built and laser surgery was initiated

In 1985 Philip Beauchamp replaced the retiring Jack Floyd and became president and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Hospital Beauchamp emphasized strategic planning upgrading services and increasing patient comfort levels Alliances and collaboration with other providers brought financial stability and increased purchasing power to the hospital as the staff turned its attention to delivering care as a component of guest relations
Prepping for the 21st Century

In 1992 Michael Covert became the next president and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Hospital bringing a new vision and energies to lead the hospital into the new millennium Sarasota Memorial Hospital has evolved into an extensive integrated health care system under his direction The Critical Care Center opened in 1993 as one of the most technologically advanced centers of its kind in the Southeast Scores of nursing and allied health care students study here Services for women and children have been a particular focus in recent years with the addition of The Breast Health Center expanded perinatal and neonatal services and an early intervention program for infants and young children with developmental delays

1997 the area of computerized medical records begins as CareVision records software begins running on a patient care unit It is the first of the patient care application in the United States It is also among the first hospitals in the world to convert its imaging services to an electronic digital format increasing the speed and accuracy of results for physicians and patients
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates nominates Sarasota Memorial for a Computerworld Smithsonian Award which recognizes the innovative use of information technology

1998 Jo Mills ReisUrgent Care Center opens to offer family friendly care in an atmosphere less stressful than traditional Emergency Rooms

In 1999 Sarasota Memorial becomes one of the first hospitals in the nation to use a minimally invasive robot device called Zeus in heart surgery Sarasota Memorial is also the first hospital in Florida to use ASESOP robots in laparascopic procedures Sarasota Memorial is also one of the first hospitals in the state to use Photodynamic nonthermal laser light to treat esophageal cancer certain lung cancers and Barretts Esophagus under an FDA clinical trial

The year 2000 brought several exciting events Duncan Finlay MD was named President and Chief Executive Officer Dr Finlay joined Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a physician in 1972 In 1988 he was named chief of staff By 1996 he was appointed vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer continuing on in 2000 to become the hospitals CEO November 2000 marked Sarasota Memorial Hospitals 75th anniversary

SMH history from 2002 through 2008

In 2002 the hospital completes a renovation and expansion that triples the size of Radiology services

Sarasota Memorial is honored with the Florida Governors Sterling Award for Performance Excellence The award is modeled after the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge Award Solucient names the Heart amp Vascular Institute as one of the Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospitals

Keeping vigilant in a post 911 world Sarasota Memorial participates in a multiplecasualty disaster drill the first of its kind in the region From here forward an exercise conducted on a regular basis to keep the hospital well prepared

2003 brings the hospital its first fouryear Magnet designation the nursing professions highest honor We win a Press Ganey story award a national honor given to hospitals demonstrating exceptional customer service and outstanding dedication to quality care Money Magazine names Sarasota Memorial one of the nations top hospitals for treatment of congestive heart failure and interventional cardiology procedures

Dale Beachey retires as CFO after 34 years of service to Sarasota Memorial while a new physician liaison program is developed to help improve customer service to area physicians facilitate referrals and develop new relationships with local doctors

Sarasota Memorial is the first and only health care provider to offer digital mammography in Sarasota Manatee and Charlotte Counties

In 2004 US News amp World Report names Sarasota Memorial one of Americas Best Hospitals in seven specialties heartheart surgery orthopedics digestive disorders cancer care urology geriatrics and Ear Nose amp Throat

The hospital becomes one of a select few in Florida to offer Neurointerventional Radiology a specialty to diagnose and treat disorders of the blood vessels of the spine head and neck Sarasota Memorial also adds a Bariatric surgery program giving patients an innovative new surgical option for battling morbid obesity

In the latter half of 2004 the hospital prepares for and thankfully dodges the devastating effects of a record four hurricanes that hit Florida in one season

2005 sees the retirement of CEO Duncan Finlay MD After 33 years with the hospital Dr Finlay leaves a legacy of excellence relationshipbuilding and unprecedented achievement for Sarasota Memorial

Gwen MacKenzie RN MN MHSA is appointed president and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System She formerly headed up the Detroit Medical Center a ninehospital 2000bed 13000employee nonprofit health system in Michigan

US News amp World Report again names Sarasota Memorial one of Americas Best Hospitals in seven specialties The hospital is accredited as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission receiving its Gold Seal of Approval as a Neuroscience Center of Excellence The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer gives its highest level of accreditation to our Institute for Cancer Care And for the fourth consecutive year Solucient names us a top 100 cardiovascular hospital

Advancing the cause of medical research Sarasota Memorial becomes one of the first nonacademic hospitals in the nation to actively conduct clinical research in several specialties The hospital also brings in FSU College of Medicine clinical training for 3rd and 4th year students

The hospital opens a new stateoftheart Emergency Care Center ECC wing

2006 puts newborns at the forefront with the arrival of a new Neonatal Intensive Care NICU Ambulance As other hospitals close the door on labor and delivery services to save money Sarasota Memorial is the only provider of obstetrical care in Sarasota County

SAM joins the hospital as the star of our new Patient Simulation Lab The Safety Advocate Module is a realistic hightech mannequin used for medical training

Sarasota Memorial debuts its cutting edge cardiac catheterization suite and opens a new ECC triage area featuring a unique soothing design to promote healing

Once again recognized by US News amp World Report as one of Americas Best Hospitals we are also named a CareScience Select Practice National Quality Leader Only one percent of hospitals nationwide receive this honor for demonstrating superior clinical outcomes and exceptional efficiency in patient care

In 2007 Advance for Nurses magazine rates us a top hospital in its first Readers Choice survey of Florida RNs

We open our second WalkIn Medical Center in the Gulf Gate area on US 41 just north of Stickney Point Road

The Institute for Advanced Medicine opens offering a multitude of outpatient services and a central location for the latest in the specialized field of neuroscience The new facility also houses the hospitals new dualsource highdefinition CT scanner and Healthplex the areas first medically oriented fitness center

Efforts to become more environmentally responsible are led by the newly organized hospital Green Team

A longrange plan for major renovations to the main hospital campus begins with the demolition of the 1960s era KennedyWhite building

Accolades this year include the 2007 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence the American Stroke Associations Get with the Guidelines Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award and our fourth consecutive year rated by US News amp World Report as one of Americas Best Hospitals

Sarasota Memorial kicks off 2008 by kicking the habit as it becomes a systemwide tobaccofree campus

An ambitious 30minute waittime promise expanded from the ECC to both WalkIn Centers is proving successful with 95 percent compliance

The hospital ramps up expansion plans with two groundbreaking ceremonies one for its new freestanding Emergency Room in North Port which will serve a growing south Sarasota County the other serving northern Sarasota and East Manatee County with a new care center at Heritage Harbour Both facilities will offer a wide array of outpatient services providing residents with more choices for medical care

At the Institute for Advanced Medicine the Cardiac Disease Assessment Center opens providing advanced testing to detect early warning signs of cardiovascular disease with the goal of preventing heart disease the number one killer of Americans today

Forbescom names Sarasota Memorial as one of Americas Safest Hospitals and again we make US News amp World Reports short list of Americas Best Hospitals The hospital earns another prestigious fouryear Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credential Center and for the 11th consecutive year we are also named Consumer Choice Award Winner for the SarasotaBradentonVenice metropolitan area by the National Research Corporation an independent health care performance measurement company

Work begins on the first phase of a multiyear comprehensive renovation project starting with the construction of a new central energy plant to replace the hospitals 1960sera facility Plans also move forward on the construction of a bed tower to replace aging wings of the hospital

Today because of the guidance of past and present administrators and dedicated board members the hospital has positioned itself to meet future as well as current health care needs of the Sarasota community The values and commitment of its founders reflect in the respect Sarasota Memorial Hospital commands in the health care industry and echo through this enduring vital partnership with our community