The Sarasota area, with its many resources and quality-conscious population, supports a healthy medical community known for top-quality practitioners and facilities that are consistently striving to be the best in the state.

For example, Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Web site notes its national ranking by U.S. News and World Report for the third consecutive year. In other health-related news, Doctors Hospital opened its state-of-the-art cardiovascular lab last May. Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, which opened in 2004, is consistently implementing new technology to provide the best care possible to its patients, including the X-STOP, a titanium alloy implant that is revolutionizing spine care.

And that’s just the hospitals. Sarasota is also home to numerous other healthcare facilities that aim to provide the finest, most comprehensive treatment possible. Read on.

Cancer Care

In addition to excellent hospital cancer programs at Sarasota and Manatee Memorial, two of the Gulf Coast’s largest and most advanced radiation treatment facilities, Radiation Oncology Centers and 21st Century Oncology, are based here. The Wellness Community of Southwest Florida provides psychological support, education and group therapy for cancer patients and their family members. The Wellness Community of Southwest Florida, 3900 Clark Road, Building P-3, Sarasota, 921-5539, www.wellness-swfl.org. Radiation Oncology Center, 3663 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 924-8700, www.radonc.net. 21st Century Oncology, 3210 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, (364-8887, www.21stcenturyoncology.com.

Children’s Health

Local children of all income levels have access to quality healthcare through a network of programs and facilities.  CMS-Sarasota is a program run by the Florida Department of Health for children with special healthcare needs. All Children’s Specialty Care of Sarasota is a specialty care clinic opened by St. Petersburg’s All Children’s Hospital in conjunction with Sarasota Memorial, and is affiliated with the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine. In addition, the pediatric hematology/oncology program at ACH in St. Pete is one the largest children’s cancer programs in the Southeast. CMS-Sarasota, 361-6250; All Children’s Specialty Care, 927-8805.

Disabilities

A plethora of organizations provide programs, services, and support to adults and children with developmental disabilities. Among them are United Cerebral Palsy,  957-3599; Easter Seals, 355-7637; Lou Gehrig’s Disease Association,  955-4771; Manasota Association for Retarded Citizens, 752-2976 and Suncoast Center for Independent Living, 351-9545.

Hearing

In addition to a local branch of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH), Sarasota boats one of the country’s most noteworthy hearing facilities: the state-of-the-art Silverstein Institute. Founded by Dr. Herbert Silverstein, considered an expert on Meniere’s and balance diseases, the institute offers diagnosis, testing, treatment and a full range of hearing devices. Silverstein has also invented several implants that are in wide use today. SHHH, 954-6927; Silverstein Institute, 366-9222.

Hospice

Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care offers complete end-of-life support for patients and families in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, 921-5681.

Hospitals

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System For the past three years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Sarasota Memorial Hospital one of the country’s best in six categories: heart surgery, orthopedics, cancer care, digestive disorders, gynecology, and respiratory disorders. SMH, Florida’s second-largest acute-care hospital, has been listed in Solucient reports for the past four years as a top 100 cardiovascular hospital. It is also the only hospital in the region to earn “Magnet” designation—the nation’s highest honor for excellence in nursing—from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 917-9000, www.smh.com.

Doctors Hospital of Sarasota Doctors Hospital, a general care facility with 168 beds, offers oncological, orthopedic and neurological services, as well as a wound-care center. The hospital is consistently ranked in the 95th percentile nationwide for patient satisfaction, and like Sarasota Memorial, its cancer care program is one of only 1,400 facilities in the country to be approved through the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. A new Spine Care Center opened in 2005. 5731 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 342-1100, www.doctorsofsasrasota.com.

Englewood Community Hospital The only acute-care facility in Sarasota County accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers (and one of only five in Florida), this hospital offers a round-the-clock nurse hotline at (941) 473-3919 (toll-free at 888-685-1598) for patients with urgent-care questions. 700 Medical Blvd., Englewood, 475-6571, www.englewoodcommhospital.com.

Venice Regional Medical Center Among the top 100 stroke hospitals in the country, this facility offers specialized cardiac care, accredited cancer services, a complete surgical program and comprehensive rehabilitation programs. Its orthopedics department—a top 100, as well—has been especially celebrated for its knee replacement and fracture repair services. 540 The Rialto, Venice, (941) 485-7711, www.veniceregional.com.

Manatee Memorial Hospital This acute-care facility was named a Top 100 Performance Improvement Leader among the nation’s community hospitals by Solucient in 2005. The hospital’s oncology unit is staffed with nurses certified in cancer care, and Manatee Memorial has one of two hospital obstetrics units operating in Manatee County. 206 Second St. E., Bradenton, 746-5111, www.manateememorial.com