John Muir Health’s Concord Medical Center Ranks First in California and in the Top 10 Nationally for Heart Bypass Surgery Outcomes Based on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Data

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April 24, 2025

(Concord, CA) – The John Muir Health cardiac surgery program is among the best in the nation for survival rates after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery — commonly known as heart bypass surgery. According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), John Muir Health’s Concord Medical Center has the highest 30-day survival rate in the state of California and is ranked #8 in the country alongside other prestigious hospitals and health systems.

To earn these top rankings, the Concord Medical Center achieved a 30-day survival rate of 98.4532% for CABG procedures, based on data from CMS from their Fiscal Year 2025 Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program. The Hospital VBP program is a financial incentive model aimed at improving the quality of care provided by acute care hospitals. The benchmark survival rate, calculated as the average rate from the top 10% of hospital rates, for CABG patients, is 97.9775%. The nation’s top 10 CABG programs are currently publicized on Becker’s Hospital Review website.

“Our excellent patient outcomes are a reflection of the entire John Muir Health cardiac surgery and recovery teams and their dedication to delivering outstanding patient care,” said Dr. Russell Rodriguez, Chief Medical Officer at John Muir Health. “As a community health system, we are proud to deliver the best heart bypass 30-day survival outcomes in the state as part of the CMS Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program.”

CABG surgery is among the most commonly performed major cardiac surgeries. It is used to treat coronary artery disease by improving blood flow to the heart. During the procedure, a healthy artery or vein from another part of the body is taken and grafted (attached) to the coronary artery above and below the blockage. This new blood vessel creates a bypass, allowing blood to flow around the blockage and reach the heart. 

The cardiac surgeons performing procedures at the health system’s Concord Medical Center are Dr. Andreas Kamlot, Dr. Jatinder Dhillon, Dr. Murali Dharan, Dr. Ramesh Veeragandham and Dr. Tanveer Khan. They partner with a team of cardiologists, anesthesiologists, intensivists, hospitalists, physician assistants, nurses, nurse assistants, perfusionists and volunteers as part of the cardiac surgery program.

John Muir Health offers a full spectrum of cardiovascular services at both its Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers, with physicians located throughout Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties. The health system’s cardiovascular programs and expert medical staff have earned numerous awards and recognitions, demonstrating their commitment to and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart disease. John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers are also designated as Contra Costa County STEMI Receiving Centers for severe heart attack patients.