Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • About Us
  • History
Content

Sutter Health History

It was more than a century ago that Sutter Health first began to form as a way to help local communities cope with growing populations, epidemics and natural disasters. In an effort to ensure that healthcare services would be available for future generations, physicians, hospitals and community members in Northern California eventually joined together to formally create the not-for-profit Sutter Health network.

We started out as a loosely knit community of independent healthcare providers, but forces like rising costs and declining payment for services made it difficult for hospitals and physicians to continue operating on their own. Just in the last decade, more than 100 Northern California hospitals have had to close their doors, and the majority of the state's physician groups are facing significant problems as well.

Our Historical Roots

While Sutter Health as it is today was created through the January 1996 merger of the Sacramento-based Sutter Health and the Bay Area-based California Healthcare System, the foundation of Sutter Health began taking shape as early as the 1800s, as independent hospitals opened to meet the healthcare needs of their local communities.

Read more history:

  • Our Barbary Coast Roots
  • Mending the Miners
  • Trio of Women Left a Lasting Heritage of Health
  • Pioneers in Health Insurance
  • A Rich Tradition of Medical Research

Sutter News

Connecting you to vital health news in the Sutter Health network.

Check Your Vitals

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare Advantage
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Residencies and Fellowships
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2022 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences