Six California Public Health Care Systems Recognized for Excellence in Innovation and Equity
Awards Highlight Pioneering Efforts to Advance Quality and Accessibility in Care Across California
SAN DIEGO, CA—The California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (CAPH), in partnership with the California Health Care Safety Net Institute (SNI), today announced the recipients of the 2025 Quality Leaders Awards (QLA). These awards honor California’s public health care systems for their leadership in innovation, equity and improving health outcomes for communities across the state.
Established more than two decades ago, the QLAs celebrate excellence in advancing quality, access and equity across California’s health care safety net. This year’s winners were selected from a strong pool of statewide submissions for their creative, measurable and equity driven approaches to improving health care.
“These initiatives show how public health care systems deliver results for their communities, even as needs grow and demands increase,” said Erica Murray, president and CEO of CAPH. “Their work reflects the steady innovation and commitment that keep California’s safety net strong.”
“These efforts show what is possible when systems listen closely to patients and design solutions that improve care in real and measurable ways,” said Giovanna Giuliani, executive director of SNI. “Our members continue to learn, adapt and advance approaches that strengthen health and equity across their communities.”
2025 QLA Winners:
- Top Honors: Contra Costa Health System – Transforming Transitions: Cross-System Care Collaboration for Behavioral Health
- Care Redesign Award: UC San Diego Health– Telehealth Emergency Department-Transitions of Care: Transforming Care for Medicare Patients
- Equity Award: Alameda Health System – Improving Breast Cancer Screening Rates Through Care Redesign and Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Innovation Award: San Francisco Health Network / Zuckerberg SF General Hospital – Sustaining Change at the Front Door: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Emergency Department Triage Design
- Transformational Partnership: Kern Medical – Mobile Units
- Population Health Award: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center – Transformational Collaboration to Mitigate the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections in San Bernardino County
CAPH and SNI congratulate this year’s winners for their continued leadership in delivering innovative, high-quality, and equitable care to all Californians.
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Media Contact:
Claudia Coons
Associate Director of Communications
California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
ccoons@caph.org | (510) 874-7111