Fremont, Calif. – October 29, 2026 – Washington Health has earned national recognition in orthopedic care for the fourth consecutive year, becoming the only hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area[1] to receive Healthgrades Excellence Awards in both Outpatient Joint Replacement and Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery every year from 2024 through 2027.
The latest distinctions place Washington Health among a select group of hospitals nationally recognized for superior clinical outcomes. Washington Health is one of just 14 hospitals in California – and one of only two in the Bay Area – to receive both awards for 2027. Washington Health also received Five-Star Distinctions in Outpatient Total Knee Replacement, Hip Fracture Treatment and Back Surgery.
The recognition builds on Washington Health’s longstanding record of industry-leading orthopedic care. In 2026, Healthgrades named Washington Health one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Outpatient Joint Replacement™.
“Being named by Healthgrades for excellence in outpatient joint replacement and orthopedic surgery for four consecutive years is a tremendous honor and a testament to the exceptional skill and dedication of our orthopedic surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses and care teams,” said Kimberly Hartz, CEO of Washington Health. “This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering safe, high-quality care and ensuring the patients in our diverse community have access to award-winning orthopedic services close to home.”
The orthopedic awards are part of a broader series of national recognitions Washington Health has received for quality and patient safety. Earlier in 2026, the hospital earned Healthgrades' Patient Safety Excellence Award, placing it among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety. Washington Health also received an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit that evaluates hospitals on measures including medical errors, injuries and infections.
Washington Health's achievements are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. Unlike rankings based on surveys or reputation, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance strictly on objective clinical outcomes – risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates at hospitals across the country that perform outpatient orthopedic and joint replacement procedures.
The impact of choosing a top-performing hospital is significant. Healthgrades’ 2027 analysis found that patients treated at hospitals with nationally recognized outpatient programs had demonstrably better outcomes than those treated at hospitals not recognized for outpatient excellence. In fact, 36,628 complications could have been avoided if all hospitals had performed at the level of five-star-rated facilities during the 2023-2025 study period.*
“Finding a hospital that excels in a given procedure or treatment can transform a patient’s health trajectory,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “We’re proud to recognize Washington Health for its top-tier performance in outpatient joint replacement and outpatient orthopedic surgery, and commend its team for delivering exceptional patient outcomes when it matters most.”
To learn more about orthopedic care at Washington Health, visit https://www.washingtonhealth.com/services/orthopedics/.
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About Washington Health
Washington Health is an independent, community-based health system governed by the publicly elected Washington Township Health Care District Board. Opened in 1958, Washington Health has grown to include a 415-bed, acute care hospital that includes the Morris Hyman Critical Care Pavilion that also houses emergency services and a level II trauma center; the Bell Neuroscience Institute of Silicon Valley; the Institute for Joint Restoration and Research; Peninsula Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Washington Health Medical Group; Washington Health Urgent Care, and Washington West that houses the UCSF-Washington Cancer Center, Washington Women’s Center, Outpatient Imaging Center, and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities. Through the Washington Health Foundation, generous donor and community support helps advance innovation, expand access to care, and strengthen vital programs. The health system continues to receive top-tier awards and distinctions for many programs and services, while advancing the level of medical care and treatment in Southern Alameda County. Discover more at washingtonhealth.com, and through Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Instagram.
About Healthgrades
Healthgrades is dedicated to empowering meaningful connections between patients, doctors, and hospitals. As the #1 platform for finding a doctor and a leader in healthcare transparency, we help millions of consumers each month find and schedule appointments with their healthcare professional of choice and prepare for their appointments with best-in-class, treatment-focused content.
For over 20 years, our health system, group practice, and life sciences marketing solutions have helped our partners reach and engage consumers on their way to the doctor.
[1] Bay Area refers to Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties.