Sunnyside Medical Center receives Cardiac Surgery Award for 10 years straight

PORTLAND, Ore. — Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center was recognized as the only hospital in Oregon and Washington to achieve the America's 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery Award for 10 years in a row from Healthgrades.

"This recognition highlights Kaiser Permanente's unwavering commitment to providing our community with compassionate, high-quality, advanced cardiac care," said Yong Shin, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery for Kaiser Permanente in the Northwest. "We are proud to have built a top-rated heart program in the Northwest. We have a rigorous focus on patient-centered multidisciplinary care using evidence-based medicine that is delivered compassionately by our amazing team of health care professionals.”

In addition to achieving Healthgrades' top honor for Cardiac Surgery each year from 2015 to 2024, Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center received the Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award, placing the hospital among the nation's top 5% for cardiac surgery for 11 years in a row (2014 to 2024).

"It takes the entire hospital to have a cardiac program that is continually recognized for its excellent care and patient outcomes," Dr. Shin said. "I want to thank everyone at Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside, from the surgeons, cardiologists, critical care teams, hospitalists, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, care coordinators, social workers, physical therapists, respiratory therapists and so many more for their ongoing dedication to our patients and the community."

Healthgrades evaluates hospitals solely on clinical outcomes: risk-adjusted mortality and complications. By focusing on what matters most — patient outcomes — the Healthgrades ratings provide critical feedback for both patients and hospitals. By offering easy access to objective performance measures, Healthgrades gives consumers the information they need to find a hospital that excels in providing the care they need. And, by shining a light on strengths and weaknesses, the Healthgrades ratings help direct hospitals to opportunities for clinical improvement. The 2024 hospital assessment evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for 35 common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide to identify the top performers.

The 2024 Healthgrades analysis revealed that the variation in performance among hospitals continues to widen, making it increasingly important to seek care at top-rated programs. From 2020 to 2022, patients treated at hospitals among America's 100 Best for Cardiac Surgery had, on average, a 57.5% lower risk of dying than if treated in hospitals that did not receive the award.

"Healthgrades congratulates Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center for being a national leader and demonstrating a deep commitment to providing high-quality care to all patients," said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades. "As health systems nationwide endeavor to elevate the quality of care, these elite facilities provide a roadmap for success. We commend Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center for its dedication to excellence in patient care."

Consumers can visit Healthgrades to learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality. Access a patient-friendly overview of how Healthgrades rates hospitals and why hospital quality matters.

Note: Statistics are based on Healthgrades’ analysis of MedPAR data for 2020 through 2022 and represent 3-year estimates for Medicare patients only. View the complete 2024 Specialty Awards and Ratings Methodology.