📋 Key Takeaways
- Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is Florida's #1 hospital by CMS safety score (8.0/10, Grade B, 5 CMS stars) — with 24 infection control measures beating national averages.
- Sarasota Memorial Hospital ranks #2 (7.4/10) and leads the state in mortality performance with 5 measures better than average.
- Florida has 222 Medicare-certified hospitals. Only 2 score above 7.0 — the national competition for top-tier safety is tight.
- All 5 hospitals on this list earned a 5-star CMS overall rating, the highest possible.
- For planned surgery, look for hospitals with multiple HAI measures performing better than national averages — this is the strongest predictor of surgical safety.
- The Orlando VA Medical Center ranks #5 — an exceptional option for veterans, but not accessible to civilians.
Florida has 222 Medicare-certified hospitals. When you're planning surgery, that number is not helpful — you need to know which ones actually perform better than the rest on the metrics that matter most for surgical safety.
This analysis is based entirely on the 2024 CMS Hospital Compare dataset — the same data the federal government uses to evaluate Medicare-certified facilities. We looked at five domains: hospital-acquired infection rates, patient safety indicators, 30-day mortality outcomes, 30-day readmission rates, and patient experience. No hospital paid to be on this list. No rankings were adjusted based on marketing or sponsorship.
Here is what the data shows.
How We Ranked These Hospitals
Our composite Safety Score weights the five CMS domains based on their demonstrated relationship to surgical outcomes. Infection control carries the most weight (30%) because hospital-acquired infections are the most common preventable complication of surgery. Mortality and readmission data are risk-adjusted by CMS, meaning sicker patient populations don't unfairly penalize a hospital's score.
For this surgical-focused ranking, we also gave additional consideration to:
- Number of HAI (hospital-acquired infection) measures performing better than national averages
- Number of mortality measures performing better than average
- Number of patient safety indicator measures performing better than average
Hospitals that score well across all three of these sub-categories are the ones you want for a planned procedure.
At a Glance: Florida's Top 5 Surgical Safety Leaders
| Hospital | City | Safety Score | Grade | CMS Stars | HAI Better | Mortality Better |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Mayo Clinic | Jacksonville | 8.0 / 10 | B | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 24 | 4 |
| 🥈 Sarasota Memorial | Sarasota | 7.4 / 10 | B | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 18 | 5 |
| 🥉 AdventHealth Fish Memorial | Orange City | 7.2 / 10 | B | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 6 | 2 |
| 4. Memorial Hospital Miramar | Miramar | 7.2 / 10 | B | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 6 | 0 |
| 5. Orlando VA Medical Center | Orlando | 7.0 / 10 | B | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 0 | 2 |
Source: CMS Hospital Compare 2024. HAI Better = number of infection control measures performing better than the national benchmark.
🥇 #1. Mayo Clinic — Jacksonville, FL
Safety Score: 8.0/10 · Grade B · CMS 5-Star · Emergency: Yes
📍 4500 San Pablo Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32224 · 📞 (904) 953-2000
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is the top-ranked hospital in Florida by composite safety score — and the margin over #2 is meaningful. Its 24 infection control measures performing better than national averages is the highest of any hospital in the state. For surgical patients, that number matters more than almost anything else on a hospital's profile.
According to CMS 2024 data, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville also has 4 mortality measures and 4 patient safety indicator measures performing better than the national average. Its 5-star CMS overall rating places it in the top tier of Medicare-certified facilities nationwide.
One note: Mayo Jacksonville's patient survey stars are 4 out of 5 — slightly below its clinical scores. This is a common pattern at major academic and research-affiliated hospitals, where the clinical environment can feel more institutional than community hospitals. It does not affect the safety score.
Best suited for: Complex surgical procedures, oncology, orthopedics, cardiovascular surgery, patients traveling for specialized care.
→ View full CMS safety profile for Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
🥈 #2. Sarasota Memorial Hospital — Sarasota, FL
Safety Score: 7.4/10 · Grade B · CMS 5-Star · Emergency: Yes
📍 1700 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34239 · 📞 (941) 917-9000
Sarasota Memorial Hospital is a regional nonprofit that outperforms many larger health systems on the metrics that matter for surgery. According to CMS 2024 data, it leads the entire state of Florida with 5 mortality measures performing better than the national average — meaning patients at Sarasota Memorial are statistically less likely to die within 30 days of care for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and related conditions.
It also has 18 HAI measures beating national averages, 4 patient safety indicator measures performing better than average, and a 5-star CMS overall rating. For a regional hospital not affiliated with a national brand, that profile is exceptional.
The patient survey rating here is 3 out of 5 — lower than its clinical performance would suggest. Based on CMS data, survey ratings at Florida hospitals correlate weakly with clinical safety outcomes. Sarasota Memorial's clinical numbers are strong regardless.
Best suited for: Cardiac surgery, general surgery, patients in the Gulf Coast / Southwest Florida region who want strong mortality outcomes without traveling to Jacksonville.
→ View full CMS safety profile for Sarasota Memorial Hospital
🥉 #3. AdventHealth Fish Memorial — Orange City, FL
Safety Score: 7.2/10 · Grade B · CMS 5-Star · Emergency: Yes
📍 1055 Saxon Blvd, Orange City, FL 32763 · 📞 (386) 917-5000
AdventHealth Fish Memorial is a mid-sized community hospital in Volusia County that consistently outperforms larger urban facilities on CMS safety metrics. Its 5-star CMS overall rating and 6 HAI measures beating national averages make it a strong option for patients in Central Florida who want surgical quality without driving to a major metro center.
Per CMS 2024 data, Fish Memorial has 2 mortality measures and 1 patient safety indicator measure performing better than national averages. These numbers are lower than Mayo or Sarasota Memorial — but the hospital's composite score reflects strong infection control, which is the most directly relevant metric for planned surgical admissions.
Best suited for: Planned orthopedic procedures, general surgery, patients in the Daytona Beach / DeLand corridor looking for a high-performing community hospital.
→ View full CMS safety profile for AdventHealth Fish Memorial
#4. Memorial Hospital Miramar — Miramar, FL
Safety Score: 7.2/10 · Grade B · CMS 5-Star · Emergency: Yes
📍 1901 SW 172nd Ave, Miramar, FL 33029 · 📞 (954) 538-5000
Memorial Hospital Miramar is the top-ranked hospital in South Florida (Broward County) by composite safety score, and the best option in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area for patients prioritizing infection control and overall CMS safety performance.
According to CMS 2024 data, Memorial Miramar earned 5 CMS stars, has 6 HAI measures performing better than national averages, and earns 4 out of 5 patient survey stars — a rare combination of strong clinical safety and strong patient satisfaction in a competitive market. Its mortality measures do not show above-average performance, which caps its overall score — but for infection control specifically, it ranks among Florida's best.
Best suited for: Planned procedures for patients in Broward County, Miami-Dade area patients seeking a Grade B hospital closer to home than Jacksonville or Sarasota.
→ View full CMS safety profile for Memorial Hospital Miramar
#5. Orlando VA Medical Center — Orlando, FL
Safety Score: 7.0/10 · Grade B · CMS 5-Star · Emergency: Yes · Veterans Only
📍 13800 Veterans Way, Orlando, FL 32827 · 📞 (407) 631-1000
The Orlando VA Medical Center earns its place in Florida's top 5 based on a 5-star CMS overall rating, strong patient safety indicators, and 2 mortality measures performing better than national averages. It is one of the best-performing VA facilities in the Southeast based on CMS data.
There is an important caveat: the Orlando VA is only accessible to veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. If you are a veteran and eligible for VA care, this hospital represents exceptional surgical safety quality that most Floridians do not have access to. If you are not a veteran, the other four hospitals on this list are your options.
Best suited for: Eligible veterans in Central Florida seeking high-quality planned surgical care within the VA system.
→ View full CMS safety profile for Orlando VA Medical Center
How to Use This Information Before Your Surgery
A hospital's safety score tells you about population-level outcomes — not your individual case. Here is how to apply this data practically:
- Start with your insurance network. The safest hospital is less useful if it costs you 3x more out of pocket. Check which of these hospitals are in-network before anything else.
- Ask your surgeon where they have privileges. Surgical outcomes depend heavily on the individual surgeon and surgical team, not only the hospital. Ask your surgeon which facility they perform the most procedures at and why.
- Look at the specific condition, not just the overall score. A hospital might score well overall but have weaker performance on the specific type of surgery you need. Our hospital pages show individual domain scores — check those if you have a specific procedure in mind.
- Verify current accreditation. CMS data reflects a specific reporting period. Call the hospital directly to confirm current Joint Commission accreditation status before scheduling a major procedure.
→ Browse all 222 Florida hospitals ranked by safety score
→ How to compare hospitals for surgery: a step-by-step guide
→ What CMS hospital safety scores actually measure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest hospital in Florida for surgery?
Based on the 2024 CMS Hospital Compare dataset, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville ranks as Florida's top hospital for surgery. It has a Safety Score of 8.0/10, a 5-star CMS rating, and 24 hospital-acquired infection control measures performing better than national averages — the highest count of any hospital in the state.
Does a 5-star CMS rating mean a hospital is safe for surgery?
A 5-star CMS rating is a strong positive signal, but it is a summary metric. For surgical safety specifically, look at infection control (HAI measures), patient safety indicators, and surgical complication counts — all available on individual hospital pages on this site. All five hospitals on this list earned 5 CMS stars.
How are Florida hospital safety scores calculated?
SafeHospitals USA uses a weighted composite of five CMS-reported domains: hospital-acquired infections (30%), patient safety indicators (25%), 30-day mortality outcomes (20%), 30-day readmission rates (15%), and patient experience (10%). All data comes from the CMS Hospital Compare public dataset. See our full methodology.
Is Sarasota Memorial Hospital good for surgery?
Yes. Sarasota Memorial is Florida's second-ranked hospital by safety score (7.4/10, Grade B, 5 CMS stars) and leads the state in mortality performance with 5 measures better than national averages. It is a strong choice for planned surgical procedures, especially for patients in Southwest Florida.
Can veterans use VA hospitals for planned surgery in Florida?
The Orlando VA Medical Center ranks in Florida's top 5 by safety score (7.0/10, Grade B, 5-star CMS rating) and is available to eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Non-veterans cannot access VA facilities. Eligibility is based on military service and VA enrollment status.
