St. Joseph’s Medical Center Named One of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2026 by Healthgrades

St. Joseph’s Medical Center ranks among the top 5% in the nation 

[STOCKTON, California] – January 27, 2026 – St. Joseph’s Medical Center announced today that it has been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades, the number one site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. This achievement reflects St. Joseph’s Medical Center commitment to clinical excellence and top-tier patient care, placing the organization in the top 5% of U.S. hospitals for overall clinical performance for the third year in a row. 

In addition to this distinction for overall clinical care, St. Joseph’s Medical Center has been recognized for its exceptional patient outcomes in key service areas, including Cardiac Care, Critical Care, Coronary Interventional Procedures, Carotid Procedures, Treatment of Bowel Obstruction, and Treatment for Sepsis. These accolades further underscore St. Joseph’s Medical Center dedication to delivering the highest quality care to every patient, year after year. 

“Being named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals is an incredible honor and a reflection of the unwavering dedication of our physicians, nurses, and the entire team,” said David Ziolkowski, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Medical Center. “This recognition affirms our commitment to delivering nationally recognized, high-quality care with compassion and humankindness for the patients and families of San Joaquin County.” 

St. Joseph’s Medical Center achievement is based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. To determine America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2026, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for more than 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide. 

Healthgrades’ analysis found that outcomes vary widely between the nation’s highest- and lowest-performing facilities—and the gap is getting bigger. In fact, if all hospitals, as a group, performed similarly to America’s 250 Best, on average, 211,370 lives could have been saved during the 2022-2024 study period.* These findings illustrate the importance of choosing a facility with an established record of superior clinical outcomes.

“This year's America’s Best Hospitals list gives patients a clearer picture of where high-quality care is delivered most consistently,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “Patients can feel confident in their decision to seek care at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, an organization that is setting the standard for clinical excellence nationwide.” 

With care variation on the rise, consumers must find and select a top-rated hospital to maximize their chances of a successful outcome. Consumers can visit Healthgrades’ America’s Best Patient Advocate Center to learn more about how Healthgrades identifies the national leaders in clinical excellence. 

*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2022 through 2024 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Click here to view the complete 2026 America’s Best Hospital Awards Methodology. 

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About St. Joseph’s Medical Center
Dignity Health St. Joseph's Medical Center is a not-for-profit, fully accredited, regional hospital with 355 beds, a physician staff of over 700, and more than 2,700 employees. Specializing in cardiovascular care, comprehensive cancer services, and women and children's services, St. Joseph's is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services with special attention to the poor and underserved. As a Sponsoring Institution for Graduate Medical Education, St. Joseph’s supports rapidly growing educational programs for both resident physicians and medical students. In addition to being nationally recognized as a quality leader, St. Joseph's is consistently chosen as the "most preferred hospital" by local consumers. St. Joseph's is the largest hospital, as well as one of the largest private employers in San Joaquin County. Founded in 1899 by Fr. William O'Connor and administered by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, St. Joseph's continues to lead the region in medical innovation. St. Joseph's Medical Center is a member of Dignity Health/CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit Catholic health system with care sites across 21 states dedicated to advancing health for all people. For more information, please visit DignityHealth.org/Stockton. 

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. 

Healthgrades is part of RVO Health, the largest consumer health and wellness platform. RVOH’s audience across its brand portfolio, including Healthgrades, Healthline, Medical News Today, Greatist, Psych Central, and Bezzy, touches every part of the health and wellness journey. RVO Health helps more than 70 million unique visitors live their strongest and healthiest lives each month.