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Harvard Medical School selected us as one of 15 U.S. healthcare organizations for its 2017-2018 Disparities Leadership Program to address racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare.
“We’re especially proud to be an integrated healthcare system because it means our patients receive consistently exceptional care and service, no matter where they go within our network. Our care teams work together to explore and push for new and effective ways to transform care quality and access for the better.”
— Sarah Krevans, President and CEO
We see mental health as part of overall health. As an integrated healthcare system and as a workplace, we all play a role in eliminating social prejudice, raising awareness, engaging in suicide prevention and expanding access to care.
Our partnership with Mental Health America develops tools and resources to proactively address mental health concerns to facilitate early and effective intervention and support.
We’ve teamed up with Quartet, a data-driven health technology company, to improve ways of diagnosing and delivering care to those living with mental health conditions.
We partnered with Virtual Medical Staff to launch 24/7/365 telepsychiatry in emergency departments and medical/surgical units in seven of our care centers, with expectations to expand systemwide by October 2018.
We’re making strides in making health outcomes equitable for all. Here’s a look at some highlights of our efforts.
Harvard Medical School selected us as one of 15 U.S. healthcare organizations for its 2017-2018 Disparities Leadership Program to address racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare.
In 2017, we piloted an Adult Asthma Program partnership in Oakland with LifeLong Medical Care to help reduce the health inequity for African-American adults seeking care for asthma.
To address equity in healthcare, we designed a systemwide acute quality executive dashboard to examine clinical outcomes with race, ethnicity, age and gender in mind.
On the night of Oct. 8, 2017 wildfires erupted across Northern California. From that first night—and for weeks beyond—our people responded bravely and generously to help our patients, the community and each other. Read more at Heroes Among Us.
Although smoke and flames forced the closure of 13 care centers, we reopened nearly all of the clinics within days because of the strength of our integrated network.
Serving Patients
Many of our nurses and other clinicians volunteered to go to other affiliates to care for our patients who had been transferred, or who were receiving new patients. We also expanded ordering privileges so additional doctors could more easily connect people to their medications.
Financial Support
We quickly gave financial support and disaster recovery pay to support impacted employees and clinicians and created a philanthropic fund open to monetary donations from within our own network and the community at large.
Emotional Support
We connected employees with options for free counseling services and other referrals to local resources during this disruptive and stressful time. We also established an opportunity for Sutter employees to donate PTO hours to their affected colleagues, which we converted to a cash contribution.
A $20 million gift—the single largest donation ever made to our not-for-profit organization, from Michael and Judith Gaulke—will help develop new healthcare approaches to make our patients’ care experience simpler, more engaging and more personal.
Our not-for-profit network delivers easy access to affordable, coordinated care. Our quality achievements in 2017 demonstrate this commitment to excellence.
See more awards.
U.S. News & World Report
Recognized four of our hospitals as among the best hospitals in California for 2017-18.
Healthcare Equality
Twenty-one affiliates earned recognition as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Stroke Gold-Plus
Five hospitals within our network received recognition for providing a high level of stroke care by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Global Humanitarian Award
MedShare honored Sutter Health with a Global Humanitarian Award for our outstanding leadership in supporting at-risk communities.
The President’s Award celebrates teams who collaborate in innovative ways to benefit those who serve our patients and communities.
The Community Case Manager Program at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center works to achieve seamless and consistent quality of care for high-risk patients transitioning from the hospital into partner skilled nursing facilities.
The Integrated Self-Management Diabetes Program at Mills-Peninsula Medical Center and Palo Alto Medical Foundation teaches people the skills they need to live well with diabetes.
In a pilot program, Palo Alto Medical Foundation uses the digital ePROMS (electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measure surveys) system to generate visual data to guide orthopedic surgical decisions.
“A healthy life shouldn’t come with long waits, inconvenience, wasted time or frustration. That’s why we’re so focused on offering highly personalized care when, where and how our patients want to receive it.”
— Don Wreden, M.D., Sutter Health Senior Vice President, Patient Experience
We’re always exploring ways to make it easier and more convenient for patients to find the affordable services they need.
Sutter Health Plus, our not-for-profit HMO health plan, now includes 30 hospitals, more than 7,000 providers, and multiple walk-in care clinics in its network.
To help meet consumer need, Sutter Health Plus continued to expand the geography of its Northern California service area, adding Santa Cruz County in 2017.
Sutter Health and Aetna’s jointly owned health plan is designed to deliver a personalized experience for members and help lower the cost of care.
Our Air-Ground Medical Transport Network served more than 64,000 critically ill or injured patients in its first year—connecting them to the next appropriate level of care. Read about transport services.
Sutter Health now offers patients live clinical consultations from their computer or smartphone, and access to customized information through Amazon Alexa and Facebook Chat.
In 2017, we continued to expand easily-accessible, stand-alone care for everyday illnesses and health needs in our Walk-In Care storefronts serving eight Northern California counties.
In 2017, we invested $924 million in facilities and lifesaving technology for our patients – extending our total investment over 10 years to nearly $10 billion. Construction for California Pacific Medical Center continues in San Francisco, with our new Mission Bernal campus scheduled to open in August.
Sutter SeniorCare PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) supports seniors who want to live independently at home and in the community for as long as possible. A personalized care team provides a comprehensive services package including in-home nursing and aide care.
“We couldn’t have the positive, life-changing impact on hundreds of children in our community each year without the partnership and support from Sutter Health.”
— Yauna Throne, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tracy
In 2017, we reinvested $612 million for people in need and partnered with Federally Qualified Health Centers and other community-based organizations so everyone has the opportunity to realize their full potential. Watch these videos to learn more.
We remain laser focused on building more access to care, creating economic opportunity, developing chronic disease prevention and treatment, and linking kids and adults in need to fresh food, educational opportunities and adequate housing.
In 2017, Sutter Health raised $662,765 for the March of Dimes, bringing our overall total raised during our 20-year partnership to $9,454,552. We continue to be California’s top fundraising team for March of Dimes, helping them work to end premature birth and fund lifesaving research and programs.
To help our neighbors, Sutter Health donated to 28 food banks across Northern California, and in Oregon and Hawaii. Our donations to community food banks over the past nine years total more than $2 million, which benefits countless individuals and families.
In 2017, Sutter Health contributed to the Fisher House Foundation to support families throughout our service area; donated supplies to Operation Care package; and donated to Veteran’s Resource Centers of America to support veterans and their families in need.
“I want our gift be the cornerstone of making Sutter Health a model that others look to when aspiring to make a difference.”
— Mike Gaulke on the couple's $20 million donation to support the Michael and Judith Gaulke Innovation Hatchery Endowment Fund
Thanks to renowned artist David Garibaldi, patients at the Mikuni Infusion Center can now enjoy “Living Walls,” inspired by memories of those who have survived cancer. Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento renamed the infusion therapy center in honor of Mikuni Charitable Foundation’s contributions of nearly $1 million to Sutter Cancer Center’s Breast Cancer Navigator Program over the past 20 years.
Taro Arai of Mikuni Charitable Foundation, left, with artist David Garibaldi
The Precision Medicine Initiative drives revolutionary changes in individualized treatment and care for patients. With help from generous donors, Sutter’s Precision Medicine Institute, using the Sutter Biobank, brings together researchers developing new diagnostics.
Generous gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations help us advance medicine and improve patients’ lives. Learn more about philanthropy.
Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center is building two new San Francisco hospitals. The CPMC Foundation is raising $300 million to enhance the care we provide within those walls.
A $4 million dollar gift first created the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and the center has now expanded in scope across other affiliates in the East Bay.
Eden Medical Center is the first hospital in Northern California to acquire BrightMatter™ technology, thanks to donors. BrightMatter uses advanced imaging, planning, navigation and robotics for complex surgeries.
Sutter Health Philanthropy innovates care, creates vital new programs, funds clinical research and expands access from our not-for-profit network to our patients and their families. Learn how giving of your time and funds can help support medical programs and services in your community.