SMH Today Fall 2024

SMH Today

FALL 2024

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S U P DAT E S F R O M S A R A S OTA M E M O R I A L

WHAT’S INSIDE

Transforming Cancer Care

Opening Soon at LWR

America’s Best Nursing Homes

Making an Impact

SMH’s Vision to Transform

SMH Today News and advice f rom Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Sarasota Memorial is a communityowned health system governed by the nine-member elected Sarasota County Public Hospital Board.

SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM David Verinder - President & CEO

Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute SARASOTA COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL BOARD MEMBERS Sarah Lodge – Chair Brad Baker Gregory Carter Bridgette Fiorucci, BSN, RN Tramm Hudson Patricia Maraia, BSN, RN Bill Noonan Victor Rohe Sharon Wetzler DePeters, APRN

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arasota Memorial Health Care System’s vision to transform cancer care has become a reality with new facilities, new services and a growing multi-disciplinary team of oncology specialists caring for patients on the Suncoast.

SMH unveiled the new Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute at the height of the pandemic, opening two new premier facilities, a radiation oncology center on University Parkway in 2020 and an 8-story inpatient and surgical Oncology Tower on the SMH-Sarasota campus in 2021. Since the Cancer Institute opened, many patients who once left the Suncoast for treatment are choosing to stay here, in their own community, to receive advanced, top-quality cancer care.

“Thousands of local cancer patients are now receiving the highest level of care, close to home,” Sarasota Memorial CEO David Verinder said. “We are truly offering new hope and healing to our community, thanks to the vision and support of our hospital board, our excellent physicians and the dedication of our entire cancer care team.”

David Verinder Sarasota Memorial President & CEO

SMH Today is a semi-annual publication produced by Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. For more SMH news and contact information, visit smh.com/news.

SMH’s vision to transform cancer care was born nearly 10 years ago in response to the southwest Florida region’s rapid growth and increase in cancer cases. At the time, 50% of cancer patients were leaving the community for treatment.

With a belief that no one should have to leave home for the best cancer care, Sarasota Memorial embarked on a plan to recruit additional, highly trained cancer specialists to the community and develop a world-class center focused on expertly coordinated, quality-driven, patient-centered care. The Cancer Institute team now offers a full continuum of cancer care services – from prevention, screening and diagnosis to treatment, clinical trials, survivorship support and more.

Assembling a Top Notch Cancer Team As the Cancer Institute grew its physical footprint, SMH also expanded its medical expertise, recruiting multiple fellowship-trained subspecialists who brought new and advanced services to our community.

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Cancer Care Now a Reality

SMH Today l Fall 2024

In just three years of operation, the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute team has:

• Assembled eight specialized cancer teams and doubled the number of oncology specialists providing care to patients. The Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute team includes more than 90 employed and community-based physicians.

• Expanded membership and frequency of its multidisciplinary tumor board

conferences, now hosting five or more conferences per week. The multidisciplinary clinical conferences allow challenging patient cases to be reviewed by a team of expert clinicians to determine the most advantageous treatment plans for those patients. In 2023, physicians reviewed more than 2,000 cases, providing each patient with individualized, high-quality care.

• Recruited fellowship-trained surgeons to expand subspecialty programs and services. As an example, radiation oncology began offering high-dose radiation/ brachytherapy treatments, a modality not previously available in the community.

• In 2023, the oncology team performed more than 9,000 surgeries and cared

for more than 2,500 patients in the inpatient and surgical Oncology Tower.

The Radiation Oncology Center team also saw record volumes, caring for 770 patients and providing 12,900 treatments. Today, more than 70 percent of cancer patients from this area are diagnosed and treated in their home community, supported by family, friends and a care team they know and trust.

• With the opening of the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, clinical research and

education programs have tripled in size, with more than 50 active studies researchers hope will lead to new targeted therapies, less invasive and more effective treatment techniques and earlier, more accurate diagnostics.

Beyond the many advanced specialists, treatments and state-of-the-art facilities, the Jellison Cancer Institute has created a centralized place to support patients and families through every step of their cancer journey.

Community Philanthropy & Support As SMH’s philanthropic arm, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s cancer campaign raised over $95 million – the largest in the foundation’s 48-year history.

In 2020, a $25 million gift from the Brian and Sheila Jellison Family Foundation inspired ongoing support from the community.

More recently, Susan Milman gifted $16 million (with contributions now exceeding $21 million to date) to support construction of the Jellison Cancer Institute’s outpatient cancer pavilion. Slated to open in late 2025, the 7-story, 200,000-square-foot outpatient facility, which will be named the Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion, is being built across the street from the Oncology Tower on the SMH-Sarasota campus. It will provide the latest diagnostic imaging technology, outpatient surgery, brachytherapy, radiation oncology and infusion, an expanded breast health center and more.

For information about SMH cancer care services, visit smh.com/cancer or call 941- 917-7777.

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Nationally Recognized Cancer Care Since opening, SMH’s Jellison Cancer Institute has earned national recognition, including multiple “Best Hospital” rankings and ratings from U.S. News & World Report. In the most recent 20242025 report, SMH was listed among the nation’s “Best Hospitals” for 24 medical specialties, procedures and conditions, including the following areas of oncology care: Gastroenterology & Gastrointestinal Surgery; Urology; Colon Cancer Surgery; Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma, Lung Cancer Surgery; and Prostate Cancer Surgery.

And in 2023, the Cancer Institute was recognized nationally in Becker’s Hospital Review’s “100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs.”

The annual list recognizes hospitals and health systems that offer leading-edge clinical trials and pioneer research discoveries that expand access to care and enhance patient outcomes.

Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion

SMH Today l Fall 2024

SMH Poised to Open Freestanding Emergency Department in Lakewood Ranch Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is expanding its life-saving emergency care services in Sarasota County with a new, full-service, freestanding emergency room near Lakewood Ranch.

areas, many more people can receive emergency care in their own neighborhoods. This is not just more convenient for patients, it also strengthens clinical outcomes and reduces congestion and wait-times at hospital-based ERs.”

Located at 7250 University Parkway, 4 miles east of I-75 in Sarasota County, the new facility slated to open in December will have the capacity to treat more than 150 patients a day.

It will be Sarasota Memorial’s fourth full-service emergency care center. In addition to its hospital-based ERs at the SMHSarasota and SMH-Venice hospital campuses, SMH operates another freestanding ER in North Port.

The new facility adds emergency care to a widening continuum of diagnostic imaging, laboratory, rehabilitation and urgent care that SMH provides in north Sarasota County and east Manatee County. The freestanding ER in Lakewood Ranch will be connected to SMH’s electronic medical record system, ensuring seamless care for patients across the health system’s hospitals and outpatient campuses.

Like all of Sarasota Memorial’s ERs, the Lakewood Ranch facility will be staffed 24/7 by experienced, board-certified emergency medicine physicians, emergency care nurses and other highly trained specialists. It will be fully equipped with walk-in and ambulance entrances, two triage bays, 16 private exam rooms, specialty rooms for trauma, pediatric, behavioral health and other patients who require advanced equipment and care, four fast-track bays, an observation unit, full-service laboratory, CT, ultrasound and x-ray imaging, as well as an MRI for more advanced imaging studies.

Most patients can be fully evaluated and treated at freestanding ERs; those with conditions requiring surgery, cardiac catheterization or a higher level of subspecialty care may be transferred to the Sarasota hospital campus, or another hospital of their choosing.

Reuben Holland, MD

As a not-for-profit, publicly owned health system, SMH reinvests its earning to strengthen the quality and accessibility of care across the Suncoast. In recent years, the health system has invested over $1 billion in new and expanded local centers of care, including opening a second acutecare hospital (SMH-Venice), the expanding Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, and the Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion.

Next year, Sarasota Memorial is slated to open its new Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute and MilmanKover Cancer Pavilion on the SMH-Sarasota campus, as well as break ground on North Port’s first hospital.

“In emergency situations, proximity and immediate access to high-quality emergency care is critical,” said Reuben Holland, MD, medical director of Sarasota Memorial’s network of emergency and urgent care centers.

“By opening freestanding ERs and placing them in densely populated Four

SMH Today l Fall 2024

Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Ranks Among “America’s Best Nursing Homes 2025”

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hoosing a nursing home for a loved one can be a difficult and emotional decision. In-person visits are important, but there are a number of online tools that can make the research more manageable.

The independent evaluations take into account resident satisfaction, accreditation status, staff training, quality indicators and performance data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.

The federal government’s “Nursing Home Compare” allows you to search facilities by state, city and zip code, then review detailed information about facility services, staffing, inspections and other care indicators.

Located at 5640 Rand Blvd., Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a 120-bed facility that offers short and long-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation for people recovering from surgery, injury or illness. Its multi-disciplinary team cares for approximately 100 residents around the clock, 365 days a year.

There also are independent rating organizations, such as U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek that use that public data along with other quality measures to rank and score individual facilities.

“Our team works incredibly hard to provide our residents and patients with a comfortable and healing environment,” said Maria DeCarlo, vice president of Sarasota Memorial PostAcute and Rehabilitation Services.

“These awards are a testament to their diligence and dedication to our community.”

Last month, Newsweek released its annual report, ranking Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center among “America’s Best Nursing Homes 2025.” Nancy Cooper, Newsweek’s editor in chief, said the news organization began evaluating nursing home data and issuing the annual quality rankings to make the process of selecting a quality nursing home easier for families.

Maria DeCarlo

SMH also has been repeatedly ranked among the nation’s 50 best hospitals for specialized care provided in the SMHSarasota hospital-based inpatient Rehabilitation Pavilion.

“Families across the nation entrust nursing homes with the health and dignity of their loved ones,” Cooper said. “Finding the right facility is not just about numbers; it’s about ensuring your family member receives the care and attention they deserve.”

Information & Referrals

In addition to being nationally ranked by Newsweek, Sarasota Memorial’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has repeatedly been listed among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report and other independent quality rating organizations.

For information, referrals or questions about Sarasota Memorial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, please call 941-917-4950 or visit smh.com/rehab.

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SMH Today l Fall 2024

UPCOMING SMH Team Wins First Place for Kidney Cancer Research

Childbirth Education Sarasota Memorial offers in-person and online childbirth education classes and Mother-Baby Support Groups, as well as 1-on-1 lactation counseling and support. For more information or to register for a class, visit smh.com/ childbirth-education.

Weight Loss & Wellness Coaching Sarasota Memorial weight and wellness specialists offer the following programs to help people lose weight and reduce their risk factors for heart disease and stroke, without medications or surgery:

SMH’s genitourinary research team, under the guidance of First Physicians Group Urologist Robert I. Carey, MD, PhD, FACS, received a first place award for research they presented at the 2024 American Urological Association (AUA) annual meeting in San Antonio earlier this year.

• RENEW (Restore and Empower through Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness), a virtual 10-week lifestyle program that combines professional health coaching, group activities, meal feedback, exercise monitoring, and unlimited peer support to help you achieve your personal weight and wellness goals. Learn more or apply at smhRENEW.com.

The world’s largest gathering of urology specialists, the AUA meeting allows clinicians to learn and present the latest advances and innovations in urologic medicine.

Of more than 1,000 clinical teams presenting research this year, the SMH team earned top honors in the kidney cancer localized surgical therapy section. SMH researchers Tonya S. King, PhD, and Genesis G. Dolgetta, BS, presented study data comparing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and partial nephrectomy (PN) for treating solid enhancing renal masses. The award-winning research was one of five Burzik Foundation-supported studies presented by the SMH team. Dr. Carey noted that the study was important due to its extended, 14-year follow-up and involvement of larger, more complex renal masses that tested the limits of ablative and surgical technology. Although outcomes were similar with both RFA and PN for smaller tumors, the study revealed better outcomes were achieved using PN for larger, more complex kidney masses.

• Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease, a nine-

week program focused on four scientifically proven life style strategies: a low-fat, plant-based diet; 30 minutes of daily exercise; stress management; and social support.

Information, call 941-917-6139 or smh.com/ornish.

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SMH Today l Fall 2024

E VENTS Sarasota Memorial Recognized as Role Model for Heart & Stroke Emergencies Sarasota Memorial Hospital received top awards this summer from the American Heart Association for providing superior, life-saving care to patients experiencing heart and stroke emergencies. As part of its annual “Get With The Guidelines” annual quality review, the AHA recognized SMH for not only following best practices, but also for doing so year after year, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Looking for America’s Best Workplace?

Sarasota Memorial was named by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers this summer. The announcement was latest in a string of awards SMH received in 2024, including Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women and America’s Best Large Employers, and Newsweek’s “America’s Greatest Workplaces.” With more than 10,000 employees working in a wide array of specialties and positions, Sarasota Memorial is proud to be Sarasota County’s largest employer. Visit smh.com/careers to learn about opportunities available within our health system.

Stroke Education & Support Whether you are a stroke survivor, caregiver, healthcare professional or someone who simply wants to reduce your risk factors, Sarasota Memorial’s Lifelong Stroke Education & Support Group and Stroke Wellness Club provide free, friendly and informative sessions to help you stay aware and informed. Call 941-917-1043 or visit smh.com/calendar for information.

SMH-Sarasota also was one of just two hospitals in Florida honored by the AHA and Mitral Foundation with the Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award. The award is given sparingly to recognize surgical excellence in the field of mitral valve repair, while also acting as a beacon for patients and residents searching for the best and most experienced hospitals and surgeons in their communities.

Visit smh.com/news to learn more.

Classes & Support Groups

Visit smh.com /calendar for our monthly calendar of events.

Call 941- 917-7777 or visit smh.com for help finding a doctor, health information, special programs and support groups.

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