Sutter Gould wins prestigious "President's Award" from Sutter Health

Modesto, Calif., Oct. 9, 2002 - Sutter Gould Medical Foundation (SGMF), an affiliate of the not-for-profit Sutter Health network of community-based health services providers, was awarded the network's prestigious President's Award which recognizes outstanding performance in the areas of patient satisfaction, clinical performance, community citizenship, philanthropy, employee satisfaction, compliance and finance. Sutter Gould Medical Foundation was honored for consistent performance in all categories during the 12-month period ending September 2002.

Each of Sutter Health's 26 affiliated hospitals, medical groups and other health services is eligible to receive the President's Award given by Sutter Health President and Chief Executive Officer Van R. Johnson. Only one or two providers in each category is recognized each year.

"Sutter Gould Medical Foundation has consistently demonstrated that clinical excellence, a cohesive working environment, rewarding community programs and solid financial performance are fundamentally linked and essential to being an outstanding provider of health services," said Johnson. "I applaud every member of the Sutter Gould Medical Foundation team for their commitment to their patients and their resolve to provide superior care in Stanislaus and San Joaquin county communities. Sutter Gould Medical Foundation is an excellent example of what makes Sutter special," he said.

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation has implemented many service improvements, including the introduction of EPIC, an electronic medical records system. EPIC has helped staff and physicians improve the patient charting, office visit and physician-notes process. New medical equipment, utilizing the latest technology in departments including Radiology and Oncology, has also allowed SGMF to remain at the forefront of change in medical care in the area.

Community service is another factor in determining The President's Award winners. Over the years, Sutter Gould staff and physicians have supported health-related charities, including the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, the March of Dimes, the American Heart Association, and many others. SGMF teams have often led the way as top fundraisers at many local charity events.

The President's Award also recognizes such achievements as well as financial stability.

"At a time when physician medical groups are facing unprecedented challenges in making critical equipment and facility investments and complying with government mandates in the face of chronic underfunding, our organization has been able to expand services and recruit new physicians to our care centers," said Sutter Gould Medical Foundation Chief Executive Officer David Bradley. "Gould’s affiliation with Sutter Health allows us to reinvest in programs that are vital to our community and to continue Gould’s long history of offering the highest quality health care to our communities."

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation, a Sutter Health affiliate, operates 16 neighborhood care centers in communities throughout Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, including Modesto, Stockton, Turlock, Tracy, Ceres and Patterson. The Foundation provides access to over 190 primary care and specialist physicians in the two-county area. For more information, visit www.suttergould.org

Sutter Health is one of the nation's leading not-for-profit networks of community-based health care providers, delivering high-quality care in more than 100 Northern California communities. It is also the regional leader in infant deliveries, neonatology, orthopedics, pediatrics and cancer care services. Sutter Health supports more than two dozen locally run acute care hospitals as well as physician organizations; medical research facilities; region wide home health, hospice and occupational health networks; and long-term care centers. For more information, visit www.sutterhealth.org