A national watchdog tracking hospital errors gives high marks for safety to hospitals in the Sarasota area.

The Leapfrog Group issues its annual Hospital Safety Grade report card and gave ‘A’ grades to Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Sarasota and Venice institutions, as well as to Sarasota Doctors Hospital.

Those hospitals earning top grades cheered the ranking.

“This is the 20th time we have earned an ‘A’ grade, so this reflects our entire team’s ongoing commitment to safety,” said Joe Rudisill, CEO of HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. “I am extremely proud of our nurses, physicians, and every colleague for their dedication to providing safe, high-quality care and always putting our patients first.”

The ratings are based on reported infections, surgical problems, safety issues, practices to prevent errors and the quality of doctors, nurses and hospital staff. Doctors Hospital, owned by HCA Florida, met the highest score of any surveyed hospital in three of those five categories.

Both of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s hospitals also earned A grades.

“Despite a volley of challenges that have impacted our state, health system and team members in recent years, our physicians, staff, volunteers and leaders continue to demonstrate their deep connection and commitment to our community,” said Sarasota Memorial Health Care System CEO David Verinder. “We cannot thank them enough for all that they do to provide safe, high-quality care to our patients,” Verinder said.

Blake Hospital in Bradenton, another HCA hospital, earned a ‘B,’ with the report card flagging communication and responsiveness issues with staff.

Manatee Memorial Hospital earned the lowest grade of area hospitals included in the survey, with the report calling out a higher than average infection rate for MRSA and post-surgical sepsis.

But of note, all four graded hospitals scored above average specifically on quality of doctors, nurses and staff, even if some scores better than others as far as bedside manner and communications. 

Photo courtesy Doctors Hospital: Nurses and Patient Care Technicians from the Medical/Surgical Unit at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital

Dianna Wynn, president of LWVUS, will be the special guest speaker at our annual Holiday Luncheon. Dianna will address “The League’s Role in Defending Democracy.” The luncheon will take place at Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club, Sarasota, on Saturday, December 7th at 11:00am. A buffet luncheon will be served. Reservations are required at a cost of $35 for League members and $40 for non-members. For more information and to register go to lwvsrq.org. Seating is limited.  

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Ringling Causeway/ Bird Key Park Beach, North Lido Beach, Lido Casino Beach, Siesta Key Beach, Turtle Beach, Nokomis Beach, North Jetty Beach, Venice Beach, Service Club Beach, Venice Fishing Pier, Brohard Park Beach, and Manasota Key Beach. This is in response to a water sample taken on November 12, 2024. The public should exercise caution in and around this area. 

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New College of Florida will host a roundtable discussion titled “Imagining the World of the Italian Renaissance” from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5 in Sainer Pavilion. Organized by Carrie Beneš, a professor of medieval and Renaissance history at New College, speakers will also include subject experts Chet Van Duzer, Jessica Maier, and Laura Morreale. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets must be reserved in advance. Aimed at a public audience, this roundtable will explore the nature of maps and the history of European exploration in the history of the Italian Renaissance. By considering questions of geographical knowledge, artistic representation, map production, and spatial projection, the presentation will broaden attendees’ understanding of Renaissance culture and world history before the Age of Exploration, while also introducing them to some of the digital techniques scholars now use to study such maps. The event is partly sponsored by a grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation earned by Beneš, a cultural historian of late medieval Italy whose research focuses on landscape, urban identity and the classical tradition. Each participating scholar brings their own unique research background and skillset in topics like Renaissance art, cartography, and spatial projection.Beneš and Morreale are both co-directors of the Le Sfera Project, an open-access multimedia edition of Goro Dati’s 15th-century poem La Sfera (The Globe) that has won two major grants for collaborative research from the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information about upcoming events at New College, visit NCF.edu. 

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Christopher Alan Homes is offering up to $20,000 in builder-paid closing costs on select new construction homes in Lee and Charlotte counties. This limited-time offer applies to sales contracts completed by Nov. 30, using a preferred lender and CAH Title for select single-family homes on individual homesites in North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres. The incentives enhance the value and affordability of Christopher Alan Homes’ already attainable pricing. Customers can maximize their savings by financing through the builder’s preferred lenders and using CAH Title, saving up to $20,000 on closing costs for homes delivered by Dec. 20, 2024, and up to $14,000 for homes closing in 2025. Christopher Alan Homes offers dozens of spot lot homes in desirable areas of Lee and Charlotte counties, available for immediate delivery and more available in 2025. Sought-after floor plans demonstrate the builder-owned company’s commitment to craftsmanship, durability and storm resiliency through thoughtfully designed open-concept living areas focused on a relaxed Florida lifestyle with covered lanais just steps away. Single-family floor plans offer three and four bedrooms, two bathrooms, dens and two- and three-car garages within 1,285 to 2,321 square feet under air. New homes also feature professionally curated interior finishes, including designer cabinetry, vaulted or tray ceilings (per plan), and well-appointed kitchens with generously sized pantries, islands and stainless steel appliances. Spacious primary suites boast walk-in closets and private bathrooms. Christopher Alan Homes, one of the top 100 builders in the U.S. according to Zonda, constructs every home to the highest standards in building and energy efficiency. The builder delivers a superior level of construction and craftsmanship with steel-reinforced concrete masonry, hurricane-resistant structural design and impact-rated low-e glass windows and doors for added safety and peace of mind. Christopher Alan Homes offers new construction homes in Lehigh Acres and Cape Coral in Lee County. Spot lot homes in Charlotte County are found in Burnt Store Village, Deep Creek and Port Charlotte in the Peachland, Gulf Cove, East Englewood and Murdock Circle areas, plus North Port, just north of Charlotte County. 

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Be transported to Clara’s enchanted dream world in The Nutcracker by the Gulfcoast Studio Company and the Sarasota Cuban Ballet on December 6 at 6:00 pm at the Sarasota Opera House. The holiday favorite features the beloved classic choreography and the beauty of Tchaikovsky’s score, with scenery and costumes conceived exclusively for the school by a legendary theater designer. It’s a very special evening for dance lovers of all ages! Our audiences agree: “Joyful” “Spellbinding” “The most magical experience” “Amazing production” “By far the most charming of all the Nutcrackers I’ve ever seen”  

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On Friday, November 15, the Naples-based Ronto Group celebrated the "topping out" of the 11th floor for the new Rosewood Residences Lido Key luxury condominium project. "Rosewood Residences will be a shining star on Lido Beach and exemplifies the standard that discerning customers are looking for in today's ultra luxury market," commented Vice President of Sales Van Osborne from The Ronto Group. "It's fantastic to see all the progress since we broke ground in January. From concept to creation and through completion, our vision has and will remain steadfast. We purchased two available side-by-side properties on Benjamin Franklin Drive and designed Rosewood Residences Lido Key, allowing us to offer 230 feet of beachfront property. To see all the amenities that Rosewood has to offer is a testament to what The Ronto Group can accomplish." Developed by The Ronto Group in partnership with Wheelock Street Capital, this was the first in a string of standalone residential only Rosewood branded properties. The team of engineers and architects created a thoughtful design that considers the location, including higher residential elevations and new code safety measures. They offer just 65 private residences on 11 floors with unobstructed Gulf of Mexico views priced from $6.5 million to $15 million. The Rosewood Residences Lido Key sales center is located at the entrance to St. Armands Circle in the Bermuda building. For appointments, call 941-888-3131. www.residenceslidokey.com. 

Pictured: The Ronto Group's Director of Client Relations Zak Sinberg, VP of Sales Van Osborne and Jim O'Donnell VP of Condominium Development.

Carolyn Fletcher Marx and the power of process, November 2024. 

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