Sarasota Memorial inks $160M software deal

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System has invested $160 million in an electronic medical records system designed to streamline processes for providers and give patients improved access to their records.

Created by software developer Epic, the electronic medical records system will be implemented over the next two years, according to a statement from Sarasota Memorial. It will replace numerous standalone and ancillary systems that have been in place across Sarasota Memorial’s network, which includes two hospitals and a freestanding emergency room as well as outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices from Manatee County to North Port.

Once implemented, the Epic system will enable all Sarasota Memorial facilities and its 2,000 providers to exchange information using one platform to better coordinate care, regardless of location. The software also uses state-of-the-art tools and technology like artificial intelligence and predictive modeling to provide insights that can improve providers’ care, the release states. 

Over the next two years, patients will gain access to patient portal MyChart, providing access to their medical records in one location and enabling them to securely exchange information with their care teams.

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“Epic’s secure, patient-focused platform has become the top-ranked EHR system used by health care organizations across the nation, and we look forward to the many benefits the nationally recognized system will bring to our patients and medical teams managing their care," Sarasota Memorial Health Care System CEO David Verinder says in the statement. 

More than 325 million patients worldwide have an electronic medical record in Epic, according to the Wisconsin-based software developer.

Says Verinder: “This investment represents a significant step we are taking today to ensure our patients receive the best care possible now and well into the future.

Sarasota Memorial handles nearly 2 million patient visits a year across its network. The system posted $2.1 billion in operating revenue in its fiscal 2025 budget, according to public documents.