Life Science and Health Care

image of stethoscope on a healthcare staff member. open_in_full

The life sciences and health care industry significantly affect employment in our region, supporting more than 279,000 jobs. At the industry’s base are four not-for-profit health systems, all of which have gone or are going through major expansions.

Businesses in the cluster directly employ more than 120,000 people. Jobs directly employed by the supplier industries represent more than 38,000, and through industry purchases and employee spending, the cluster supports approximately 121,000 additional jobs. (Metro Chamber Health Care and Biosciences Economic Impact Report, 2009)

Key locally headquartered employers and businesses

  • The Jackson Laboratory is a leading independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution. The Jackson Laboratory is the source for more than 7,000 strains of genetically defined mice.
  • NeuroVision Imaging, LLC is developing a noninvasive, quick and inexpensive retinal imaging test for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • SynGen is an innovative company that develops stem cell harvesting systems.
  • HealthLinkNow is a telemedicine company that allows individuals to connect with health care professionals using technology.

Health care institutions

  • UC Davis Medical Center is a 631-bed hospital that serves a 65,000 square mile area that includes 33 counties and 6 million residents. UC Davis Medical Center ranked among the nation’s top hospitals for 2014-15 in 10 adult medical specialties.
  • Kaiser Permanente is a major regional health care for provider for people who live in the Sacramento Region. Kaiser Permanente continues to expand its presence in the Sacramento area.
  • Mercy Health Care is a subsidiary of Dignity Health. Mercy Health Care provides hospital care to the Sacramento Region with six hospitals in the region. Mercy Medical Group provides more than 250 healthcare providers in 35 different medical specialties in the Sacramento area. Mercy Health Care.
  • Sutter Health is a not-for-profit health system headquartered in Sacramento. Major service lines of Sutter Health-affiliated hospitals include cardiac carte, women and children’s services, cancer care, orthopedics and advanced patient safety technology.
  • Western Health Advantage, started in 1996, is a Sacramento-based health care plan company which provides quality health care for local business owners and individuals in the Sacramento Region.

Key facts

  • The Life Sciences and Health Care field has over 98,000 jobs and is a $8.64 billion a year industry.
  • Sacramento ranks as the eighth fittest city according to BetterDoctor.com.
  • More than 100 biotechnology and medical device companies in the region. 
  •  The Health Care Industry provides approximately 20% of the total payroll for the entire Sacramento Region’s workforce.
  • Over $18 billion has been spent on new facilities at Kaiser, Mercy, Sutter and UC Davis medical expansion projects in recent years.

Regional efforts

  • Sacramento Region Health Care Partnership is a part of the Sierra Health Foundation, whose goal is to find ways to improve access, care coordination and quality of the region’s health care needs.

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