Methodist Hospital of Sacramento’s achievement is based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. Designed by Freepik

 

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Dignity Health Methodist Hospital of Sacramento announced that it has achieved the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades, the No. 1 site Americans use to find a doctor or hospital. This award reflects Methodist Hospital’s commitment to safe, patient-centered care and puts the organization in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient safety for a second year in a row.

Alongside this national recognition for patient safety, Methodist Hospital was recipient of numerous accolades based on its exceptional performance in key service areas. In cardiac care, the hospital earned Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for two years in a row (2025-26). In critical care, it was recognized as a Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Sepsis (2026). These achievements further underscore the organization’s commitment to delivering compassionate, individualized care at every step of the patient journey.

“We are immensely proud of these significant Healthgrades achievements, including our ongoing national recognition for patient safety, Five-Star ratings for Heart Failure and Sepsis, and the 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award,” said Phyllis Baltz, President and CEO of Dignity Health Methodist Hospital of Sacramento. “These honors signify our team's steadfast focus on delivering outstanding outcomes and an exceptional care experience. It's truly a testament to the dedication of our entire staff in making patient safety and quality our top priorities.”

Methodist Hospital of Sacramento’s achievement is based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. To determine the national leaders in patient safety, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates from approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide across 13 patient safety indicators (PSIs), with each PSI representing a serious, preventable complication. 

Healthgrades’ annual analysis revealed significant performance gaps between the nation’s highest-and lowest-achieving facilities, making it increasingly important for consumers to seek care at a hospital with top safety ratings. During the 2022-24 study period, 167,228 preventable safety events occurred among Medicare patients at U.S. hospitals, with four PSIs accounting for nearly 78 percent of all incidents.

Patients treated at Methodist Hospital and other award-winning facilities had a profoundly lower risk of experiencing an in-hospital fall resulting in fracture (52.4 percent less likely); collapsed lung due to a procedure in or around the chest (57.5 percent less likely); catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (67.8 percent less likely); and pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital (71.9 percent less likely).

"The data behind this year’s Patient Safety Excellence Award highlights how measurable improvements in safety can prevent thousands of complications,” said Dr. Alana Biggers, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “By prioritizing evidence-based safety practices, Dignity Health Methodist Hospital of Sacramento is achieving better clinical outcomes and cultivating a culture where patients come first.” 

Where you’re treated matters, which is why Healthgrades is committed to providing the most scientifically accurate information about doctors and hospitals, with data insights not available anywhere else. For additional guidance on finding safe, high-quality care in 2026, visit healthgrades.com.  

*Statistics are calculated from Healthgrades’ Patient Safety Excellence Award Methodology, which is based primarily on AHRQ technical specifications (Version 2025.0.1) to MedPAR data from approximately 4,500 hospitals for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.