Every year, an estimated 17 million strokes occur worldwide. Stroke is also the leading cause of disability, according to the American Stroke Association.

Sutter Health is proud of its outstanding stroke care and strong patient outcomes. On October 29, its care teams recognize World Stroke Day to raise awareness of the serious nature of stroke as a time-sensitive medical emergency. Several Sutter care centers were recognized by Healthgrades when the organization announced its newest round of Specialty Excellence Awards, including those in stroke and neurosciences.

“Our mission at Sutter Health includes putting the care of patients first. We have a vision to be the most comprehensive, integrated, and connected health system for getting people well and more importantly, keeping people well,” said Brian Richardson, M.D., neurologist, Sutter Health. “Healthgrades’ recognition shows that we, as an organization, are delivering on that mission and vision, and setting the bar for clinical excellence in specialty care both statewide and nationally.”

Among the nation’s top performers in stroke care is Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus in Berkeley, Calif., recognized as one of Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care.

“It is an honor to be recognized by Healthgrades for Sutter Health’s stroke care,” said Manoj Mittal, M.D., neurologist, Sutter Health. “Recognitions like this speak to the entire organization’s relentless drive to provide patients with the best possible care in situations where seconds count, as well as the dedication and skill of our doctors, clinicians and entire care teams.”

Other Sutter facilities recognized by Healthgrades for excellence in stroke care and neurosciences include:

• Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Summit Campus (Oakland) – Stroke Care Excellence Award
• Mills-Peninsula Medical Center (Burlingame, Calif.) – Stroke Care Excellence Award

“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. As part of 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.

Stroke and Neurovascular Care at Sutter

Across the Sutter Health Network, care teams and hospital leadership have made stroke and neurovascular care a top priority.

The Sutter Health network includes 17 hospitals that are designated by The Joint Commission as Primary Stroke Centers or higher. Sutter Medical Center Sacramento and Sutter’s Eden Medical Centers are certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers while Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Sutter’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center and California Pacific Medical Center – Davies Campus are certified Thrombectomy Capable stroke centers. While not certified, Sutter Coast Hospital and Sutter Delta Medical Center provide expert stroke-related services via access to Sutter’s Telestroke Service.

Most recently, Sutter launched its Telestroke Program system-wide in 2023. The program expansion ensures stroke patients, including those in rural communities with limited access to neurological specialists, to receive timely access to expert care.

Looking ahead, Sutter is also investing millions in the building of its new Mission Bernal Care Complex in San Francisco, which will offer patients from across the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond access to a new, modern facility for treating a range of advanced neurological diseases, such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as stroke. The new care facility, bringing neurological and spine specialists under one roof, will improve ease of access for patients and create a collaborative environment for physicians and care teams.