For more than a century, heart disease has remained the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for 22% of all lives lost. Yet most heart attacks and strokes are preventable with healthy habits and early detection and management of risk factors.
As American Heart Month comes to a close, Sutter reflects on the care that helps patients protect their hearts and the team who make that possible every day. Several Sutter hospitals were honored by Healthgrades for cardiac care in the 2026 Specialty Excellence Awards, highlighting a commitment to helping patients live longer, healthier lives.
“I’m proud of our teams who deliver world-class care, and we are thankful to be recognized by Healthgrades,” said Dr. Michael Pham, chair of Sutter’s Advanced Heart & Vascular Service Line. “These achievements reflect our steadfast commitment to the communities we serve and our responsibility to prevent heart disease before symptoms even begin.”
Proactive, Preventive, Systemwide Heart and Vascular Care
Sutter’s leadership in cardiovascular care is rooted in one of the nation’s most advanced heart and vascular networks, uniting more than 325 specialists, five cardiac surgery centers and eight locations with catheterization lab capabilities. From community clinics close to home to quaternary referral centers, patients have access to comprehensive expertise in heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart rhythm disorders, heart failure and more.
Early detection remains one of the most powerful predictors of future heart health. Knowing your numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight — can save lives. Sutter offers community and employee screening events, primary care visits and Sutter Sync for blood pressure and cholesterol management.
Sutter leverages imaging and AI tools to identify disease before symptoms appear, leading the way in proactive intervention. This includes systemwide opportunistic detection of coronary artery calcification on non-gated CT scans, dedicated coronary artery calcium scoring scans, precision cardiac MRI and CT tools and expanding preventive cardiology programs — including ones designed specifically for women, who are more likely to have delayed diagnosis or be under-treated.
A Legacy of Impact and Innovation
For patients and families, Sutter’s heart care means access to treatments that save lives and extend time with the people they love. Regional firsts in pediatric and adult heart transplants opened new possibilities for patients of all ages, and that same focus on progress continues today.
By using advanced imaging and working closely with pharmacy teams, care teams are able to spot heart disease earlier and tailor care plans to each patient, often before symptoms become more serious. Minimally invasive options, including robotic-assisted valve repair and replacement, are helping patients recover faster, spend less time in the hospital and get back to their lives sooner, while expanding access to high-quality heart care in communities across Northern California.
Healthgrades 2026 Cardiac Care Awardees
Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure
Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Summit Campus
- Healthgrades 2026 Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™
- Top 10% in the Nation for Cardiology Services for three years in a row
- Top 10% in the Nation for Coronary Interventional Procedures
- Five-Star Recipient for Coronary Interventional Procedures for three years in a row
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack for five years in a row
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for 15 years in a row
Sutter’s CPMC – Van Ness Campus
- America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention™ for five years in a row
- No. 4 in California for Coronary Intervention
- No. 4 in California for Cardiology Services
- Coronary Intervention Excellence Award for six years in a row
- Top 5% in the Nation for Cardiology Services for four years in a row
- Top 5% in the Nation for Coronary Interventional Procedures for five years in a row
- Top 10% in the Nation for Cardiology Services for four years in a row
- Top 10% in the Nation for Coronary Interventional Procedures for six years in a row
- Five-Star Recipient for Coronary Interventional Procedures for six years in a row
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack for four years in a row
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for four years in a row
Sutter’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
- America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care™
- No. 5 in California for Cardiology Services
- No. 5 in California for Cardiac Care
- Healthgrades 2026 Cardiac Care Excellence Award
- Named Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Overall Cardiac Services
- Named Among the Top 10% in the Nation for Cardiology Services for two years in a row
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack for 14 years in a row
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for nine years in a row
Sutter Davis Hospital
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for four years in a row
Sutter Delta Medical Center
- Five-Star Recipient for Pacemaker Procedures for two years in a row
Sutter Lakeside Hospital
- Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for four years in a row
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
- Five-Star Recipient for Repair of Abdominal Aorta
- Five-Star Recipient for Peripheral Vascular Bypass for three years in a row
Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center
- America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery™ for three years in a row
- No. 2 in California for Vascular Surgery
- Vascular Surgery Excellence Award™ for three years in a row
- Top 5% in the Nation for Vascular Surgery for three years in a row
Sutter Health continues to advance the future of heart and vascular care — building on a century of innovation to deliver transformative, personalized solutions for adult and pediatric patients across Northern California and beyond.
Learn more about heart and vascular services at Sutter: https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/heart-and-vascular.
