Natividad Receives Top National Recognition for Surgical Safety and Outcomes from the American College of Surgeons   

Natividad has earned national recognition from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), a program that measures and improves surgical care quality, for its exceptional surgical outcomes in 2024. Natividad joins just 76 hospitals across the country that are honored for excellence in routine or high-risk procedures. 

Natividad is named on both the ACS NSQIP “All Cases” and “High Risk” Meritorious lists. In California, Natividad was one of seven hospitals recognized overall and one of four for both “High Risk” and “All Cases.” 

“This latest recognition places Natividad among the nation’s surgical leaders and highlights our ongoing commitment to set the standard for quality and safety in patient care,” said Natividad CEO Dr. Chad Harris. 

As part of the ACS NSQIP, Natividad’s dedicated surgical team earned this accolade by delivering outstanding patient care and safety. Their superior results in eight critical clinical areas included reduced mortality, fewer complications and improved recovery rates. 

“We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition from the American College of Surgeons,” said Dr. Alexander Di Stante, Trauma Medical Director and Surgical Services Director. “This honor belongs to our entire surgical team, who work hard every day to give our patients exceptional care. Being recognized for excellent outcomes in both routine and high-risk surgeries shows that our commitment to patient safety is making a real difference.” 

Of the 609 eligible ACS NSQIP hospitals, 76 achieved the “All Cases” or “High Risk” distinction based on an outstanding composite quality score in one or both categories. Each composite score was calculated using a formula that combined eight outcomes from the following clinical areas: mortality (death), unplanned intubation (unexpected need for a breathing tube), ventilator > 48 hours (required use of a mechanical breathing machine for over two days), renal failure (loss of kidney function), cardiac incidents (cardiac arrest, which is a sudden loss of heart function, and myocardial infarction, which is a heart attack), respiratory (pneumonia), SSI (surgical site infections, including superficial, deep incisional, and organ-space infections), and urinary tract infection (infection of the urinary system). 

“We commend all ACS NSQIP-participating hospitals because they have committed to using high-quality data to improve the surgical care of their patients,” said Dr. Clifford Ko, Senior Vice President of the ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care. “Natividad has gone a step further — not only do they use the data effectively, but they also have the results to prove they are achieving optimal patient outcomes. We are particularly proud of their achievements in this increasingly difficult climate.” 

Nationally, ACS NSQIP is used in more than 850 pediatric or adult hospitals, which are designated as ACS Surgical Quality Partners. Each is required to track the outcomes of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures and collect data that assesses patient safety and can be used to direct improvement in the quality of surgical care. Find an ACS Surgical Quality Partner hospital through the ACS Find a Hospital tool. 

About Natividad 

Natividad is a hospital and trauma center providing compassionate high-quality health care to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Located in Salinas, Calif., Natividad is a public health care system offering a wide range of inpatient, outpatient, emergency, diagnostic and specialty medical care for adults and children. Founded in 1886, the 172-bed medical center has more than 11,000 admissions and about 60,000 emergency visits annually. Home to the area’s only Level II Trauma Center, the hospital’s specialized personnel, equipment and services provide a vital local community service that saves lives and keeps patients close to home. Natividad’s Baby-Friendly® facility delivers nearly 2,300 babies every year and is affiliated with UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. It also operates an accredited Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, giving the tiniest and most fragile babies the best chance for a healthy start. Through its UCSF-affiliated Natividad Family Medicine Residency, Natividad is the only teaching hospital in Monterey County. For more information, please call (831) 755-4111 or visit www.natividad.com.  

About the American College of Surgeons 

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The ACS is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The ACS has approximately 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. “FACS” designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the ACS.