WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – Two Contra Costa County hospitals have received national recognition in the newly released 2026-27 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings.
John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek medical centers were both designated as Best Regional Hospitals, placing them among a relatively small group of hospitals recognized across the country.
U.S. News evaluated approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide for this year’s rankings. Only 505 — roughly 11% — received the Best Regional Hospital designation.
To qualify, a hospital had to earn at least eight “high performing” ratings across the medical procedures and conditions evaluated by U.S. News.
Both John Muir hospitals comfortably exceeded that threshold.
Concord Hospital Earns a National Cardiology Ranking
John Muir Medical Center in Concord received an additional distinction: a national Top 50 ranking for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery.
It was one of only 178 hospitals nationwide to receive a national specialty ranking this year. The recognition also marks the 20th consecutive year that at least one John Muir Health specialty has appeared in the national rankings.
The Concord hospital was rated high performing in 15 procedures and conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, heart bypass surgery, aortic valve surgery and pacemaker implantation.
Other high-performing areas included colon cancer surgery, hip and knee replacement, kidney failure, pneumonia, prostate cancer surgery and care for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
Walnut Creek Recognized for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek was rated high performing in two major adult specialties: Orthopedics and Rehabilitation.
Hospitals receiving a high-performing specialty rating placed within the top 10% nationally but did not receive a numerical Top 50 ranking.
Walnut Creek also earned high-performing ratings in 15 procedures and conditions. Those included spinal fusion surgery, colon and gynecological cancer surgery, hip fracture care, hip and knee replacement, lung cancer surgery, maternity care, pneumonia and stroke.
The Walnut Creek hospital has served as Contra Costa County’s designated trauma center for approximately 40 years. It is currently the county’s only trauma center.
Both Hospitals Rank Near the Top of the Bay Area
The Concord and Walnut Creek medical centers both placed among the top four hospitals in the San Francisco metropolitan area, a region that includes nearly 50 hospitals across Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties.
They also ranked among California’s top 30 hospitals. Concord placed No. 20 in the state, while Walnut Creek ranked No. 27 out of more than 400 California hospitals.
Several of their individual specialties also performed particularly well locally. Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation all placed among the top three adult specialties in the San Francisco metro area.
This year’s U.S. News rankings placed additional weight on risk-adjusted outcomes, including patient survival and complication rates. Other measures considered in the rankings include patient experience, nursing quality and whether patients were able to return home following hospitalization.
U.S. News also introduced regional specialty rankings for the first time this year. The new rankings cover cancer; cardiology, heart and vascular surgery; orthopedics; and rehabilitation, providing another way for patients to compare complex medical care available close to home.
Together, John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek campuses have nearly 750 licensed beds. The broader health system includes more than 1,200 primary care and specialty physicians serving patients throughout Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties.
