Eighteen hospitals in California are among the top 2% of hospitals in the nation for “clinical excellence,” according to Healthgrades.
The hospitals were included on Healthgrades’ annual America’s 100 Best Hospitals list, which was derived from an analysis of more than 45 million Medicare medical claims from approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide over a three-year period, according to the company.
Hospitals cannot opt in or out of the analysis and are not allowed to submit their own data, Healthgrades said.
To determine a hospital’s ranking, the company said it grades hospitals on outcomes for 31 condition and procedure groups, such as heart attack and total knee replacement.
Looking at mortality rates and procedure complications, the company said it developed a model to predict each hospital’s expected outcomes.
“Hospital quality is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a doctor for inpatient care,” Healthgrades said. “Hospital quality can vary from hospital to hospital, and those differences can literally mean the difference between life and death.”
Here are the 18 California hospitals that made the cut.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
The Oakland medical facility has been on Healthgrades’ America’s100 Best Hospitals for three years straight, according to the company.
The hospital has a 72% patient experience rating, which is 6% higher than the national average, Healthgrades said.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Alta Bates Campus
Since 2024, the Berkeley medical center has made Healthgrades’ America’s100 Best Hospitals list, according to the company.
The hospital falls below the national average by 8% on its patient experience rating with a 58% rating, Healthgrades said.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Based in West Hollywood, the medical center has been included on Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list since 2024, according to the company.
The hospital has a 77% patient experience rating, which is 11% higher than the national average, Healthgrades said.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
The Burlingame facility has been included on Healthgrades’ America’s100 Best Hospitals list since 2024, the company said.
The center has a 79% patient experience rating, 13% higher than the national average, according to Healthgrades.
Mills Health Center
Since 2024, the San Mateo medical facility has been included on Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals, according to the company.
Northridge Hospital Medical Center
The Northridge hospital has been recognized on Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals since 2024, the company said.
The center has a 70% patient experience rating, which is 4% higher than the national average, according to Healthgrades.
Providence Holy Cross Medical Center
Based in Mission Hills, the hospital has been recognized by Healthgrades as America’s 100 Best Hospitals since 2024, the company said.
The facility’s patient experience rating is 75%, 9% higher than the national average, according to Healthgrades.
Regional Medical Center of San Jose
This is the first year the San Jose medical center has made Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list, the company said.
With a patient experience rating of 60%, the facility is slightly below the national average, according to Healthgrades.
Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
The Encinitas hospital has made Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list since 2024, the company said.
Its patient experience rating of 74% is 8 percentage points higher than the national average, according to Healthgrades.
Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego
The San Diego medical facility has also made Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list in 2025 and 2024, the company said.
The hospital has an average patient experience rating of 66%, according to Healthgrades.
Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista
This is the third year the Chula Vista hospital has made Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list, according to the company.
St. John’s Regional Medical Center
The Oxnard medical center also made Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list in 2024 and 2025, the company said.
With a 63% patient experience rating, the hospital sits just below the national average, according to Healthgrades.
St. John’s Hospital Camarillo
This is the second time the Camarillo hospital has been named on Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list, the company said.
Stanford Hospital
The Stanford medical facility has been included on Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list since 2024, according to the company.
The hospital has an 85% patient experience rating, which is 19% higher than the national average, Healthgrades said.
Sutter Roseville Medical Center
Since 2024, the Roseville based facility has been included on Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list, the company said.
The hospital has a 77% patient experience rating, which is 11% higher than the national average, Healthgrades said.
UC Davis Medical Center
The Sacramento hospital has made Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals list since 2024, the company said.
The center has a 74% patient experience rating, which is 8% higher than the national average, according to Healthgrades.
UC San Diego Health Hillcrest Hillcrest Medical Center
Healthgrades has included the San Diego medical facility on its America’s 100 Best Hospitals list since 2024.
With a 78% patient experience rating, the hospital sits 12% higher than the national average, according to the company.
Alvarado Hospital Medical Center
Since 2024, Healthgrades has included the San Diego medical facility on its America’s 100 Best Hospitals list.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 18 California hospitals ranked among America’s 100 best. See the list
Reporting by Daniella Segura, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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