It's a proud moment for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center's Rehabilitation Center, which secured a slot in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 list of the Top 10 Best Hospitals. Climbing to No. 7 nationally in Rehabilitation, the center isn't just leading the West Coast; it's setting a benchmark for health services in more ways than one.
The medical center was lauded for its high performance in numerous areas, including Diabetes, Heart Failure, Maternity, Pacemaker Implantation, Pneumonia, and Stroke care. Santa Clara's commitment to community health care runs deep, as Board President Otto Lee, Chair of the Health and Hospital Committee, rightly pointed out: "It’s vital to have nationally recognized health services – like rehabilitation, stroke, and maternity care – right here in our community," according to a statement shared by the county.
The evaluation process by U.S. News was anything but cursory. It involved more than 4,400 hospitals, assessing 15 adult specialties and 22 procedures and conditions. Patient care data comprising over 800 million records was scrutinized to ensure that only the cream of the crop cut.
County Executive James R. Williams waxed eloquent about the center's role in providing critical, life-saving care through its emergency rooms, trauma centers, and the lauded Rehabilitation Center. "Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, our County’s healthcare system, is a tremendous asset to all our residents," Williams said via the County of Santa Clara website, signaling the enterprise behind the award-winning services. The system's network, draped across four acute care hospitals and a tapestry of clinics, is California's second-largest County-owned array.
Those at the helm credit their success to the staff's unwavering dedication. Dr. James Crew, Chair of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, highlighted the collaboration driving patient care: "Our talented rehabilitation team is fortunate to collaborate with highly skilled physicians in other departments at SCVMC to obtain the best outcomes possible," as Santa Clara County news reported. With 64 beds and services ranging from brain injury to stroke care, the center has been an anchor in the community since 1970.
Paul E. Lorenz, CEO of Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, remarked on the collective effort, "This incredible honor is a direct result of the talent and teamwork provided by our doctors, nurses, therapists, psychologists, social workers, case managers, and all members of our team working to deliver the best possible care for our patients." This recognition is one feather in the cap for a center decorated with seven accreditations by the Commission of the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the crucial backing of the Joint Commission, along with Medi-Cal and Medicare, per the county's press release.
