• AdventHealth Daytona Beach, St. Joseph’s Hospital Tampa Bay, and Cape Coral Hospital were named to the Fortune/Merative ‘Top 20 Large Community Hospitals’ list 
• The three hospitals were found to have maintained or improve mortality and complication rates in spite of complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Four Florida hospitals including Sarasota Memorial Hospital were listed as part of the top 40 teaching hospitals in America 

Three Florida hospitals — AdventHealth Daytona Beach, St Joseph’s Hospital Tampa Bay, and Cape Coral Hospital — were named on the Fortune/Merative ’20 Top Large Community Hospitals’ list. The trio of medical centers appears together on the list for the third consecutive year.

The research metrics used in declaring the hospitals ‘America’s best’ found that the three Florida clinics had lower inpatient mortality and fewer patient complications while managing to keep inpatient expenses low while still maintaining a healthy financial environment in comparison to statewide peers.

“I am proud of our team members and physicians, who continue to deliver extraordinary care to our patients and the communities we serve, and I appreciate the leadership of our community boards of directors in our ongoing pursuit of clinical excellence,” said St. Joseph Hospital BayCare President and CEO Tommy Inzina.

While collectively scoring highly in terms of clinical outcomes, operation efficiency, and patient experience, hospitals nationwide tended to score worse than they did a year ago.

The data showed the effects of the suspension of elective procedures during the early stages of the pandemic. Compared to the year prior, 19.3 percent of all hospitals had longer lengths of stay while 17.9 percent saw an increase in total expenditure per patient.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital was also listed as one of the nation’s top 40 teaching hospitals, alongside other Florida honorees Brandon Regional Hospital, Ocala Regional Medical Center, and Orange Park Medical Center.

“Sarasota Memorial Hospital is a vital community asset that has been caring for the Suncoast for nearly a century,” said Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder. “I could not be prouder of our entire team and the unwavering diligence and dedication they have displayed the past few years, and through the decades, to ensure our community receives the highest quality care.”