Bone and joint injuries are becoming more common across the nation. The prevalence of these conditions is predicted to increase greatly due to increasing life expectancy and changes in risk factors, according to the United States Bone and Joint Initiative. Currently, more than half the American population over the age of 18 are affected by musculoskeletal conditions, including back pain, arthritis, traumatic injuries and osteoporosis.

Sutter Health, a leading California healthcare organization­­­, is dedicated to providing top-tier care for individuals suffering from joint pain. Several Sutter care centers were recognized by Healthgrades in its latest round of specialty care awards for 2025, particularly for excellence in orthopedic care.

Three Sutter campuses were ranked among the top 100 hospitals in the nation for joint replacement—Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, Novato Community Hospital and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Alta Bates Campus. Both Mills-Peninsula and Novato Community Hospital are ranked in the top 5% in the nation in this category.

“It is an honor for our campuses to be recognized by Healthgrades as top 100 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic care,” said Dr. Steven Hao, Chief Medical Officer of Service Lines for Sutter Health. “This distinction showcases the commitment of our doctors, clinicians, and everyone on care teams to provide patients with individualized, safe, equitable, evidence-based and high-quality services to maximize their health, well-being and quality of life.”

Overall, Sutter care centers were recognized by Healthgrades with 102 awards and 111 five-star ratings for services such as joint replacement, stroke, outpatient orthopedic surgery, cardiac, neurosciences, critical care and more.

These achievements place Sutter Health among the hospitals nationwide for specialty care, reflecting the organization’s commitment to consistently delivering exceptional care.

“Our mission at Sutter Health includes caring for our patients first, with a vision to be the most comprehensive, integrated and connected health system for getting people well and having them stay well,” said Keegan Kirby, Vice President, Orthopedic Service Line, Sutter Health. “Healthgrades’ recognition shows that we, as an organization, are delivering on that mission and setting the bar for clinical excellence in specialty care both statewide and nationally.”

Key highlights of the Healthgrades awards include:

• Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus (Berkeley, Calif.) – Recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for joint replacement, stroke care, gastrointestinal care and gastrointestinal surgery. The hospital also received Specialty Excellence Awards in critical care and surgical care.
• Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Summit Campus (Oakland, Calif.) – Recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for critical care. The hospital also received Specialty Excellence Awards in stroke care, gastrointestinal care, gastrointestinal surgery.
• Mills-Peninsula Medical Center (Burlingame, Calif.) – Recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for joint replacement and critical care. Mills Peninsula is also ranked No. 5 in California for critical care. The hospital also received Specialty Excellence Awards in stroke care, gastrointestinal care, surgical care and outpatient orthopedic surgery.
• Novato Community Hospital – Recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for orthopedic surgery and joint replacement
• Sutter Roseville Medical Center – Received Specialty Excellence Award in outpatient joint replacement
• Sutter Surgical Hospital North Valley (Yuba City, Calif.) – Received Specialty Excellence Award in outpatient orthopedic surgery

“Healthgrades commends Sutter Health for its clear commitment to delivering consistently superior patient outcomes in critical service areas, including neurosciences,” said Dr. Brad Bowman, chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades. “Sutter Health’s leadership, expertise and unwavering dedication to clinical excellence set a high mark for specialty care in California and nationwide.”

Sutter Health’s achievements are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. In its 2025 hospital assessment, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine the top performers in specialty care. By offering easy access to objective performance measures, Healthgrades helps consumers find and select a hospital that excels in providing the care they need.