U.S. News & World Report has recognized 10 Sutter ambulatory surgery centers on its 2025 list of Top Performing ASCs. The publication evaluated over 4,300 surgery centers based on key factors such as complication rates, ER visits, unplanned hospitalizations, patient outcomes, risk adjustment, and other performance metrics.
Interview with Tara Darnell, Sutter Health VP of Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning. Have you had a career-defining moment? This is a tough one, to define “just one” moment. A few years ago, I reported to a leader who inspired me to really move my ideas into action. I had been relentlessly researching how to shift from a reactive function to a proactive and strategic TA function and continually stressed to him the importance of incorporating workforce planning into our model. He acknowledged the need and encouraged me to design it and propose to him and the leadership team. At the time I didn’t realize that something that was “just my idea” could come to fruition with the sponsorship and advocacy from the right leaders. This was a defining moment for me because it was the beginning of the shift of all the great momentum we’ve seen over the last couple of years. Our structure is now the “gold standard” in the industry! What messages do you tell yourself when you are facing adversity? When faced with adversity I keep my values and my why at the center of all I do. At times I’ve felt like an imposter in a room where I’m not sure I belong or presenting in an environment where I don’t think people care to hear what I have to say. Then I remember why I am here in my role at Sutter, because of my passion in caring for people with love. With that as a guiding principle, anything is possible. This Women's History Month, let's celebrate the women who paved the way.
Celebrating the Life of Elena Griffing, an Alta Bates Summit Icon Elena Griffing, Sutter Alta Bates Summit’s longest tenured employee, died on Friday, February 14 at the age of 98. Many were familiar with her, wearing her trademark pressed lab coat and heels, Elena clicked along the corridors of Sutter’s Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley for 75 years before retiring in 2021. Elena was only 20 years old when she began her life-long career at Alta Bates Hospital in 1946. Elena worked alongside the hospital’s founder, nurse Alta Alice Miner Bates, who famously stopped her in a hall one day and told Elena to stop wearing her trademark 3-inch heels because she “might fall.” That never happened and Elena continued to wear heels to work every day.
Happy Valentine’s Day from our beloved facility dogs! These fur-tastic pups bring comfort, love, and a lot of tail wags to pediatric and adult patients throughout the Sutter Health system in Northern California. The groundbreaking facility dog program began over 20 years ago and continues to make a difference daily. All trained by Canine Companions, these paws-itively amazing pups help with rehabilitation, provide emotional support, and fetch smiles in our hospitals and clinics everywhere they go. Sending warm, fuzzy Valentine’s wishes from our facility dogs to you! 🐶
In honor of Black History Month, we sat down with Sutter Health’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Dana Beckton, to discuss the profound contributions of Black individuals throughout history and their enduring influence on society. This conversation underscores the significance of celebrating these achievements while recognizing the continued pursuit of true equality and inclusion.
Recently, Sutter further demonstrated its commitment to staff and provider-led innovation. This past fall, the organization launched a systemwide innovation challenge, inviting team members to share ideas that could help make Sutter the healthcare destination of choice for patients. The winning idea—a self-administered, smartphone-based cognitive screening tool for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia—was selected by Sutter’s executive team for its potential to benefit both patients and clinicians.
Meet Sutter’s official mascot and newest teammate: River, the sea lion! Compassionate, curious and always ready to lend a helping hand (or flipper), she’s proud to a part of #TeamSutter surrounded by people who live these same values! #MeetRiver2025 #SutterProud
Seven Sutter Hospitals Recognized as 'America's Best' Congratulations to seven of our Sutter hospitals for earning a spot on this year's America’s Best Hospitals list by Healthgrades, an online resource that provides consumers with information about physicians and hospitals. Learn more about this elite honor.
“We are here because someone else paved the way for us,” reflected Yolanda Stevenson as she prepared to join hundreds of community members, sponsors, and officials at Sacramento City College for the 43rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. March for the Dream on January 20. Sponsored by Sutter Health and other organizations, the event honored Dr. King’s enduring legacy of equity, justice, and unity.
Sutter Health hospitals have been recognized for delivering top-tier maternity care, earning accolades from U.S. News & World Report and California Health and Human Services Agency in partnership with Cal Hospital Compare.
