Awards & Recognition

U.S. News & World Report Top Hospitals

John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers have again been ranked very highly by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025/2026 list of America's Best Hospitals. Concord and Walnut Creek were ranked #2 and #3 in the San Francisco Metro Area for the ninth straight year behind only UCSF Medical Center, our adult care partner. Concord and Walnut Creek were again designated as Best Regional Hospitals. This is the 10th straight year that our medical centers have achieved the Best Regional Hospitals designation.

The Walnut Creek Medical Center achieved a nationally ranked service for Obstetrics & Gynecology (#41) - one of just 152 medical centers to be nationally ranked. The medical centers were also rated as high performing in several specialties -- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery, and Orthopedics. In addition, the two medical centers were rated as high performing in a number of adult procedures and conditions, including Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Aortic Valve Surgery, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), Colon Cancer Surgery, Heart Arrhythmia, Heart Attack, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, Hip Fracture, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion), Kidney Failure, Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma, Lung Cancer Surgery, Gynecological Cancer Surgery, Pacemaker Implantation, Pneumonia, Prostate Cancer Surgery, Stroke, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Magnet® Recognition for Nursing

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has honored John Muir Health with Magnet® recognition status for excellence in nursing services and quality nursing care at our Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers. The Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes health care organizations who adhere to their national standards of excellence in the delivery of nursing services, an honor that makes our nursing at Walnut Creek Medical Center and the Concord Medical Center amongst the best in the nation.

The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™ Accreditation

John Muir Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals. The accreditation award recognizes our dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards.

John Muir Health underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey and a team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated us for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

John Muir Health has also been awarded disease-specific recognition for Stroke Care, Wound Care services and Lab Point-of-Care Testing.

Newsweek Best Hospitals

The World's Best Hospitals 2025 ranking lists the best hospitals in the United States. Our Concord and Walnut Creek medical centers were recognized on the list and ranked as #191 and #359 in the United States, respectively. The Maternity Center at the Walnut Creek Medical Center was also recognized as one of the best in the United States.

2026 Get with the Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus Award (Concord) and Gold (Walnut Creek)

Awarded for our commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks. Both of our medical centers are designated as Contra Costa County STEMI Receiving Centers for severe heart attack patients.

2026 Heart Failure Gold Plus (Concord and Walnut Creek)

Both our medical centers have been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for our commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure. This award is only given to hospitals who have demonstrated compliance to this high level of quality during the most recent 24-month or greater period.

2026 Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll (Concord and Walnut Creek)

To qualify for this recognition, both our medical centers met the specific criteria for reducing the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and administering treatment with the clot-busting drug, Alteplase.

2026 Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus (Concord and Walnut Creek)

Awarded for our commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. As part of this recognition, we also achieved Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll.

Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll (Walnut Creek)

This award signifies that specific criteria were met that reduce the time an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke.

Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll (Concord and Walnut Creek)

This award demonstrates that both of our hospitals ensure that our patients with Type 2 diabetes receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized with us due to heart disease or stroke.

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMMS) Stage 7 Certification

John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers have achieved HIMMS Stage 7 Certification, which means that we operate in a near paperless environment using a secure electronic health record and other online systems. The certification also validates that we are leveraging technology to analyze patterns of clinical data to improve our quality of care, patient safety and care delivery efficiency.

The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for Certification as Stroke Centers

The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for certification as Primary Stroke Center (Concord Medical Center) and Comprehensive Stroke Center (Walnut Creek Medical Center)

After undergoing an on-site evaluation and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care, John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for certification as Primary Stroke Center (Concord Medical Center) and Comprehensive Stroke Center (Walnut Creek Medical Center). By achieving certification as Primary and Comprehensive Stroke Centers, we have proven our ability to provide effective, timely care to stroke victims, which can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.

The American College of Radiology (ACR)

John Muir Health’s Radiation Oncology programs at its Concord and Walnut Creek medical centers have received accreditation from The American College of Radiology (ACR), the nation’s oldest and most widely recognized radiation oncology and medical imaging accrediting body. This recognition places John Muir Health in the company of 200 radiation oncology facilities in the United States that are ACR accredited or in the accreditation review process, and the only hospitals in the East Bay to be recognized.

Breast Center Accreditation

John Muir Health is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. The accreditation assures patients that our Breast Health Center is held to the highest standards of care.

Rectal Cancer Center Accreditation

John Muir Health’s Rectal Cancer Program is the first nationwide to earn accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) and Center of Excellence by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).

Center of Excellence

John Muir Health, Concord Medical Center and John Muir Health, Walnut Creek Medical Center are both recognized as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement.

John Muir Health, Walnut Creek Medical Center is recognized as Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery.

John Muir Health, Concord Medical Center is recognized as Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care.

Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers® means these facilities' overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians' and leading professional organizations' recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan; and call your provider before making an appointment, to verify the most current information on its Network participation and Blue Distinction status. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any of its Licensees are responsible for any damages, losses, or non-covered charges that may result from using Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or receiving care from a Blue Distinction or other provider.

A Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)

A Three-Year Accreditation was awarded to John Muir Health for the following programs:

Hospital Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (Adult)
Hospital Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs (Children and Adolescents)

Top Performer in LGBT Healthcare Equality

John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers, and Behavioral Health Center have been recognized as “Top Performers in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization. All of our facilities earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate our commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBTQ+ patients and their families.

College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation

The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has awarded a two-year accreditation to the Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Center Laboratories and the Microbiology Laboratory. The CAP accreditation process, which is considered equal-to or more-stringent-than the federal government’s own inspection program, ensures that laboratory patients are receiving the highest standard of care. John Muir Health's labs are three of more than 7,600 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide.

American Association of Blood Banks Laboratory Accreditation

The Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Center Blood Banks have been granted accreditation from the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). AABB’s Accreditation Program assesses the quality and safety of collecting, processing, testing, distributing and administering blood and cellular therapy products, as well as the quality and operational systems in place within our hospitals. The accreditation ensures that we have a level of professional and technical expertise that contributes to quality performance and patient safety.

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®)

Our Weight Loss Surgery Center has earned accreditation as a Comprehensive Center for Bariatric Surgery under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

A bariatric surgical center achieves accreditation following a rigorous review process during which it proves that it can maintain certain physical resources, human resources and standards of practice. All accredited centers report their outcomes to the MBSAQIP database. The MBSAQIP accreditation ensures that bariatric surgical patients receive the benefits of a multidisciplinary program, not just a surgical procedure, which improves patient outcomes and long-term success. That means patients can expect the highest standards of safety and care.

Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Accredited Facility

Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society Accreditation is the gold standard in hyperbaric facility accreditation. The John Muir Health, Walnut Creek Medical Center is one of only six hospitals in California with this accreditation, which is the only hyperbaric specific accreditation to be recognized by The Joint Commission. The accreditation means that our facility has met the highest standards of care and patient safety through a rigorous evaluation of the adequacy of our facility, equipment, staff and training.

Designated Baby-Friendly® Birth Facility

John Muir Health’s Walnut Creek Medical Center was the first hospital in Contra Costa County to receive prestigious international recognition from Baby Friendly USA as a Designated Baby-Friendly® birth facility. Breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your newborn. The World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund recently released the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding framework that Baby-Friendly hospitals like ours use to guide breastfeeding experiences from the moment a child is born. We are proud to be recognized for providing a level of care and range of services that help mothers achieve their baby’s nutritional goals.

The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care

John Muir Health’s Walnut Creek Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® for Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care (ACPC) by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. According to The Joint Commission, the Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care and to improving the patient experience. The certification recognizes the Walnut Creek Medical Center’s efforts to achieve integrated, coordinated, and patient-centered prenatal through postpartum care, including both complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies.

Awards and Recognition