Best Hospitals in California: California is home to some of the top-ranked hospitals in the United States. With world-renowned research institutions and expert physicians, California hospitals provide excellent care and cutting-edge treatments. This article will highlight the 10 best hospitals in California based on national rankings, patient satisfaction, and quality of care.
Best Hospitals in California
California has over 300 hospitals ranging from large academic medical centers to small community hospitals. The top hospitals in the state are nationally ranked for excellence in complex specialty care and surgical procedures. Many of the top hospitals are located in major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.
The top hospitals in California have high patient satisfaction scores, low mortality rates, and the latest medical technologies. They employ expert physicians, nurses, and support staff to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. Their specialties include cancer, cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, and transplant surgery.
Top 10 best hospitals in California:
| Hospital | Location | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | Los Angeles | Cancer, Cardiology, Gastroenterology |
| UCSF Medical Center | San Francisco | Cancer, Neurology, Orthopedics |
| UCLA Medical Center | Los Angeles | Pediatrics, Transplants, Oncology |
| Stanford Health Care | Palo Alto | Cancer, Neuroscience, Cardiology |
| Keck Hospital of USC | Los Angeles | Cancer, Neurology, Ophthalmology |
| Hoag Memorial Hospital | Newport Beach | Cancer, Neuroscience, Orthopedics |
| Cottage Health | Santa Barbara | Orthopedics, Neurology, Cardiology |
| Eisenhower Health | Rancho Mirage | Cardiology, Orthopedics, Neurology |
| Providence Saint John’s Health Center | Santa Monica | Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital | La Jolla | Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology |
Next, we will take a closer look at each of these top 10 hospitals in California and describe their specialties and services.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is ranked among the top hospitals nationally in 12 adult specialties. Located in Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai is a non-profit academic health system known for excellence in many areas, especially cardiology, cancer, and women’s health.
Some key specialties at Cedars-Sinai include:
- Cancer: The Cedars-Sinai Cancer program provides comprehensive cancer treatments including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and experimental treatments through clinical trials. They have specialized expertise in cancers like gastrointestinal, gynecological, lung, and brain tumors.
- Cardiology: Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute offers advanced treatments for heart disease and vascular disorders. They perform over 2,000 cardiac surgeries annually, along with minimally invasive procedures like TAVR and ablation therapy.
- Gastroenterology: For patients with digestive disorders, Cedars-Sinai provides excellent care in areas like IBD, liver disease, and GI cancers. Their specialists perform over 10,000 endoscopic procedures every year.
Cedars-Sinai also has highly-ranked programs in orthopedics, neurology, diabetes care, and rehabilitation medicine. With research projects underway in precision medicine and genetics, Cedars-Sinai provides patients access to breakthrough treatments.
UCSF Medical Center
The University of California, San Francisco Medical Center is one of the top hospitals on the West Coast. UCSF excels in complex specialty care and advanced treatments for serious illnesses.
Key specialties at UCSF Medical Center include:
- Cancer: UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center offers comprehensive cancer care with a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach. They provide advanced surgical, medical, and radiation therapies.
- Neurology: For neurological disorders, UCSF Medical Center provides expert care with leading neurologists and neurosurgeons. They specialize in stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and neuromuscular disorders.
- Orthopedics: Ranked #9 nationally in orthopedics, UCSF orthopedic doctors perform over 10,000 surgeries annually. They specialize in sports medicine, joint replacement, spine surgery, and musculoskeletal trauma.
Other highly-ranked programs at UCSF include cardiology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, nephrology, pulmonology, rheumatology, and urology. As an academic medical center, UCSF is at the forefront of biomedical research and innovation.
UCLA Medical Center
The University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center is ranked nationally in 14 adult and 10 pediatric specialties. UCLA Medical Center provides advanced medical and surgical care informed by cutting-edge research.
Some of the standout programs at UCLA Medical Center include:
- Pediatrics: Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA provides comprehensive pediatric care in fields like oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, and neonatology. They are ranked #6 nationally in pediatric care.
- Transplants: UCLA’s transplantation program performs over 600 procedures yearly for kidney, liver, heart, lung, and pancreas transplants. Their survival rates are among the highest in the country.
- Oncology: The UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center is a leader in cancer research and innovative treatments like immunotherapy and genomics-based therapies. They provide multidisciplinary cancer care.
Other specialties where UCLA excels include cardiology, neurology, digestive health, orthopedics, and primary care. With pioneering research underway, UCLA Medical Center gives patients access to advanced treatment options.
Stanford Health Care
Located in Palo Alto, Stanford Health Care is the academic medical center affiliated with Stanford University. Stanford Health Care is nationally ranked in cancer, neuroscience, and heart care specialties.
Here are some of their standout specialty programs:
- Cancer: The Stanford Cancer Institute brings together cancer specialists to provide personalized, coordinated care. They offer advanced therapies including immunotherapy, gene therapy, and precision radiation.
- Neuroscience: Stanford Neuroscience Health Center focuses on conditions like stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and neuro-oncology. Their neurologists and neurosurgeons provide comprehensive treatments.
- Cardiology: Ranked one of the top heart hospitals nationwide, the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute offers innovative cardiovascular treatments. They perform over 1,000 cardiac surgeries and 2,500 catheterizations annually.
Additional highly-ranked programs at Stanford Health Care include orthopedics, transplantation, pulmonology, gastroenterology, and urology. Stanford Health Care provides advanced specialty care informed by groundbreaking research.
Keck Hospital of USC
It is a Part of the University of Southern California’s medical campus, Keck Hospital of USC contains over 400 specialty and primary care physicians. Keck Hospital provides high-quality care in cancer, neurology, and ophthalmology.
Here are some of their nationally ranked programs:
- Cancer: The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center offers personalized cancer treatments including clinical trials of emerging therapies. They excel in blood cancers, breast cancer, and GI cancers.
- Neurology: Ranked #13 nationally in neurology and neurosurgery, Keck Hospital treats complex brain and nervous system conditions. Their experts specialize in stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and more.
- Ophthalmology: The USC Roski Eye Institute provides comprehensive vision care. They offer advanced treatments for conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Other specialty care services at Keck Hospital include orthopedics, cardiology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, nephrology, and pulmonology. Their physicians translate emerging research into innovative patient treatments.
Hoag Memorial Hospital
The Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian is a nonprofit regional health system with hospitals in Newport Beach and Irvine. Hoag Hospital is ranked nationally in orthopedics, cancer care, neurology, and geriatrics services.
Here are some of their centers of excellence:
- Cancer: Hoag Family Cancer Institute provides comprehensive cancer services including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and clinical trials. They specialize in breast, gastrointestinal, and gynecological cancers.
- Neurosciences: The Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute offers advanced treatments for conditions like stroke, brain tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and more.
- Orthopedics: Hoag Orthopedic Institute provides expertise in sports medicine, joint replacement, spine surgery, orthopedic trauma, and musculoskeletal disorders. They perform over 10,000 orthopedic procedures annually.
Other specialty services at Hoag Hospital include cardiovascular care, women’s health, gastroenterology, pulmonology, and integrative medicine. Hoag Hospital delivers high-quality, personalized care informed by research.
Cottage Health
Cottage Health operates hospitals and care centers throughout Santa Barbara County. Their hospitals have earned national rankings in orthopedics, neurology and rehabilitation, and heart care.
Some of their centers of excellence include:
- Orthopedics: The Cottage Center for Orthopedics provides comprehensive surgical, therapy, and rehab services for musculoskeletal conditions. Their experts perform joint replacements, spine procedures, sports medicine, and trauma surgery.
- Neurology: At the Comprehensive Care Center, Cottage Health provides care for complex neurological disorders. Their services include stroke care, epilepsy treatment, deep brain stimulation, and care for conditions like multiple sclerosis.
- Cardiology: The Cottage Heart & Vascular Center provides advanced care for cardiovascular disease and surgery. They offer heart catheterizations, arrhythmia treatment, TAVR, and heart transplants.
Cottage Health also provides specialty care in areas like cancer, pulmonology, gastroenterology, neurosurgery, and women’s health. Their hospitals blend personalized care with innovative treatment options.
Eisenhower Health
Eisenhower Health is a nonprofit hospital based in Rancho Mirage. Their physicians and surgeons have expertise in cardiology, orthopedics, and neurology.
Some of their nationally recognized programs include:
- Cardiology: At the Eisenhower Desert Cardiology Center, they provide advanced treatments for heart disease. Their cardiac specialists perform procedures like cardiac ablation, pacemaker implantation, and complex stent placements.
- Orthopedics: The Eisenhower Desert Orthopedic Center offers comprehensive orthopedic care including joint replacement, sports medicine, spine surgery, and musculoskeletal trauma.
- Neurology: The Eisenhower Neuroscience Institute treats complex brain and nervous system conditions. They have expertise in stroke treatment, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and more.
Other specialty centers at Eisenhower Health include the Lucy Curci Cancer Center, Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, and the Eisenhower Rehabilitation Center. Eisenhower Health brings together medical experts across dozens of specialties.
Providence Saint John’s Health Center
Providence Saint John’s Health Center is located in Santa Monica, California. Ranked as one of the top hospitals in the region, Saint John’s has nationally recognized programs in cardiology, orthopedics, and gastroenterology.
Some of their areas of excellence include:
- Cardiology: The Providence Heart Institute offers innovative cardiovascular treatments including complex stent placements and procedures for arrhythmias. They also perform cardiac surgery and valve replacements.
- Gastroenterology: The Digestive Health Institute provides comprehensive care for gastrointestinal conditions. They specialize in disorders like IBD, Barrett’s esophagus, liver disease, and pancreatic conditions.
- Orthopedics: Affiliated with the John Wayne Cancer Institute, the orthopedic program offers joint replacement, spinal surgery, sports medicine, and treatment for musculoskeletal disorders.
Saint John’s also provides cancer care, neurology, pulmonology, urology, geriatrics, and women’s health services. Their physicians incorporate advanced treatment options and leading-edge research.
Scripps Memorial Hospital
With multiple hospital campuses in San Diego County, Scripps Health offers nationally recognized specialty care and primary services. Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla has highly-ranked programs in cardiology, cancer, and neurology.
Their centers of excellence include:
- Cardiology: Scripps Clinic Heart & Vascular Center provides cardiology and cardiovascular surgery including heart transplants. They also offer interventional procedures, arrhythmia treatment, and rehabilitation.
- Oncology: Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center delivers integrated cancer care including surgery, systemic therapies, radiation oncology, and clinical trials. They specialize in cancers like leukemia, breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal.
- Neurology: At the Scripps Clinic Vons Neuroscience Institute, physicians treat complex neurological conditions like stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and more.
Additional specialties at Scripps Memorial include orthopedics, urology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, endocrinology, nephrology, and women’s health. Scripps brings together medical experts to care for complex, chronic conditions.
Best Hospitals in California by Specialty
Beyond the top nationally ranked hospitals, California has excellent specialty hospitals and care centers. Here are some of the best hospitals in California organized by medical specialty:
Best Cancer Hospitals in California
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center (Duarte)
- Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UC Irvine Health
Children’s Hospitals
- Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
- Valley Children’s Healthcare (Madera)
Orthopedic Hospitals
- Hospital for Special Surgery (LA and San Francisco)
- Shriners for Children Northern California (Sacramento)
- Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (LA)
Cardiology Hospitals
- Huntington Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute (Pasadena)
- Providence St. Jude Medical Center (Fullerton)
- Long Beach Memorial Heart & Vascular Center
Neurology Hospitals
- Huntington Medical Research Institutes (Pasadena)
- Pacific Neuroscience Institute (Santa Monica)
- UC Davis Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (Sacramento)
California has some of the top hospitals and medical centers in the world. Whether you need a routine check-up, specialty care, or a life-saving surgery, California hospitals provide exceptional patient care, medical expertise, and advanced treatment options. Research, innovation, and a commitment to excellence make California home to many of the nation’s best hospitals.