U.S. News & World Report spotlighted Sarasota Memorial Hospital among 57 “standout” hospitals with strong ratings in all nine procedures and conditions it evaluated in this year’s “Best Hospitals” study. As part of its annual report, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals for their handling of 9 surgical procedures and chronic conditions: colon cancer surgery, lung cancer surgery, COPD, heart failure, heart bypass surgery, aortic valve surgery, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, knee replacement and hip replacement. Barely 1% of those hospitals – just 57 including SMH – got that top rating in all nine. The results earned SMH the national spotlight as a “standout” hospital and the No. 1 “Best Regional Hospital” in the Sarasota-Bradenton-North Port metropolitan area. The ratings are designed to help patients and health care consumers make informed decisions about where to receive care for specific medical needs.