Sarasota Memorial Hospital doubles ER capacity at Venice campus

Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice has more than doubled its emergency room capacity in a move that hospital officials say will help meet the growing needs of South County residents.

The Venice hospital’s expansion spans 30,000 square feet and cost $90 million, according to a statement from Sarasota Memorial Hospital. The addition included 33 more exam rooms for a total of 61, two more resuscitation suites, upgraded imaging facilities and a third CT scanner that is centrally located.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice opened in November 2021 and reached capacity within days of opening, officials say. The closure of ShorePoiint Venice in 2022 and the closure of ShorePoint Punta Gorda since hurricanes Helene and Milton have “underscored the urgency to increase capacity and capabilities at SMH-Venice,” according to a statement from the hospital.

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Staff celebrated the expansion with a Dec. 16 ribbon cutting at Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice.

“With these new resources, we are better equipped than ever to meet the needs of our growing population,” Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice Campus President Sharon Roush says in a statement. “This milestone represents our commitment to the community and our mission to provide world-class healthcare close to home.”

The ER expansion is the latest development at the campus off Laurel Road, which opened a new five-story patient care tower earlier this year. Adding what became the hospital's third patient care tower nearly doubled inpatient bed capacity from 110 to 212 patient rooms. 

"Along with the ER expansion," hospital officials say in a statement, "the upgrades and enhancements will help streamline emergency response times at SMH's Venice hospital and provide a more efficient and comfortable experience for patients during emergency situations."