News

The ER at Fruitville, an extension of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, located at 6760 Fruitville Road in Sarasota, has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® and the American Heart Association’s® Acute Heart Attack Ready Certification.

The ER at Fruitville underwent a rigorous, unannounced on-site review in April 2022. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with certification standards including program management, supporting self-management, and delivering and facilitating clinical care. The Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted on-site observations and interviews.

“This certification confirms we are providing the highest quality care by standardizing our protocols, which provides a framework for improving patient outcomes and survival,” said Andy Guz, Chief Executive Officer of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. “I want to express my gratitude to our physicians and staff for their focused efforts on quality improvement measures that have resulted in offering high-quality care for our heart attack patients.”

The certification, which is offered in collaboration with the American Heart Association, demonstrates the ER at Fruitville’s patient-centric cardiac care approach that is better for patients and their families. “People in our community should know that the ER at Fruitville is fully prepared to care for cardiac emergencies 24/7. Even before a patient experiencing a heart attack arrives, local ambulance service teams are communicating with our ER so coordinated care is underway before the patient even arrives at the ER,” Guz said.

“We congratulate the ER at Fruitville for this outstanding achievement,” said Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for cardiac patients.”