Two Sutter Health Affiliates Among Top 50 Hospitals in U.S.

Elite List Developed by Prestigious Health Care Quality Group

SACRAMENTO, Calif. October 18, 2006 – California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco and Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento, both affiliates of the not-for-profit Sutter Health network, were named as among the top 50 acute care hospitals in the U.S by The Leapfrog Group in its first ever such list.

The two hospitals were named as among the best after The Leapfrog Group surveyed more than 1,200 hospitals. The prominent consortium of some of the nation's largest employers is challenging health care providers to make significant "leaps" in patient safety and health care quality.

"This is a tremendous honor and just one example of how physicians, nurses and other professionals across our network are working together to make significant leaps in patient care," said Gordon Hunt, M.D., chief medical officer for Sutter Health.

Sutter is at the forefront of efforts to bring innovative and lifesaving technologies to the bedside, a key "leap" identified by Leapfrog. "We are investing in a broad range of patient safety initiatives including bar-coding technology that improves hospital medication delivery safety, an electronic intensive care unit and a systemwide paperless electronic health record," added Dr. Hunt.

In fact, this recognition comes just a few months after seven Sutter Health affiliated hospitals were honored for their outstanding commitment to health care quality and patient safety.

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center – Alta Bates Campus in Berkeley, Mills-Peninsula Health Services, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Sutter Roseville Medical Center were each recognized by four of the state's leading health plans based on their performance in The Leapfrog Hospital Quality and Safety Survey.

"Patient safety and quality health care are the backbone of the programs and services we provide to our communities," said Dr. Hunt. "These awards recognize our system's diligent efforts to consistently enhance the quality of care we provide to patients."

"Although our affiliates are proud to be consistently recognized as among the best by as prominent a health care leadership organization as The Leapfrog Group, we're not letting up," concluded Dr. Hunt. "We remain committed to advancing patient safety and clinical quality to improve patient care."

---

Media Contacts
Kami Lloyd
(916) 286-6680
lloydk@sutterhealth.org


Karen Garner
(916)286-8297
garnerk@sutterhealth.org