Photo courtesy SMH: Sarasota Memorial First Physicians Group officials cut ribbon on Lakewood Ranch center.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital expands its presence in Lakewood Ranch with the official opening of new offices and medical facilities at Lorraine Corners. The SMH Health Care Center will include First Physicians Group Pediatrics and Internal Medicine practices, along with additional office space for subspecialties.

“This new health care center will help ensure that people of all ages in this community have convenient access to primary care,” said David Verinder, CEO of Sarasota Memorial.

Hospital officials on Friday held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event, including tours of new facilities and a chance for community members to meet doctors there. There, Verinder said the growing Lakewood Ranch community represented a perfect market in which to open new facilities.

The expansion comes amid growing demand, SMH officials said, for the hospital’s services in all corners of Sarasota County.

“There’s been a growing demand throughout the community for Sarasota Memorial’s high level of care,” Verinder said. “In 2018, the hospital and First Physicians Group had more than 82,000 visits from patients from the Lakewood Ranch area—an increase of over 50 percent from the prior year. That’s no surprise, as this is one of the fastest growing master planned communities in the nation.”

The hospital provided the first 100 children in attendance with free teddy bears, and offered the chance to bring those plush toys and others to a teddy bear clinic. The center also offered free balance screenings and chair massages among other festivities.

“To help serve the area’s growing population, we also have outpatient and urgent care centers and physician offices on University Parkway and in Heritage Harbour,” Verinder said.

Photo courtesy SMH: Sarasota Memorial First Physicians Group officials cut ribbon on Lakewood Ranch center.