Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Receives National Recognition for Patient Safety, Quality, and Surgical Excellence

May 15, 2026

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) today announced it has earned multiple distinguished recognitions for patient safety, quality of care, and surgical excellence. These accolades include top ratings from The Leapfrog Group, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

"These recognitions are a powerful testament to our relentless focus on patient safety and quality across our system,” said Julie Manas, President of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and CommonSpirit Health's Northwest Region.“Our communities can have confidence that they are receiving care from some of the top hospitals in the nation.”

Newsweek recognized Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC) as one of the World's Best Hospitals 2026 in February. Out of more than 2,500 hospitals evaluated across the globe this year, VMMC was among just 250 institutions to receive this special recognition. 

Hospitals were reviewed and scored based on four comprehensive data sources:

• Recommendations from a vast network of medical experts (doctors, hospital managers, and other health care professionals)
• Hospital quality metrics
• Existing patient experience data
• Statista’s Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Implementation Survey

The 2026 evaluation placed greater emphasis on hospital quality metrics, incorporated new accreditation, quality, safety, and patient experience data from multiple countries, and elevated the role of PROMs through higher weighting and a revised implementation survey.

In the latest bi-annual Leapfrog Group ratings for patient safety, all eligible VMFH hospitals earned an "A" or “B” Hospital Safety Grade, exceeding national averages for quality care.

Leapfrog’s grading system is based on 22 national performance measures and encompasses critical aspects of hospital performance, including how well care is delivered, patient experience scores, quality and safety outcomes such as Patient Safety Indicators (PSI), and hospital-acquired infections (HAI). The scores are converted to one of five letter grades, ranging from “A” to “F”. The VMFH hospitals evaluated include:

• St. Anne Hospital (Burien, Wash.) - A grade
• St. Anthony Hospital (Gig Harbor, Wash.) - A grade
• St. Clare Hospital (Lakewood, Wash.) - A grade
• St. Francis Hospital (Federal Way, Wash.) - B grade
• St. Joseph Medical Center (Tacoma, Wash.) - A grade
• St. Michael Medical Center (Silverdale, Wash.) - A grade
• Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle, Wash.) - A grade

As a critical access hospital, St. Elizabeth Hospital, located in Enumclaw, is not included in current Leapfrog ratings.

VMFH Bellevue Ambulatory Surgery Center and VMFH Medical Pavilion Lynnwood have both been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as 2026 Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers. This designation signifies excellence in outpatient surgical care.

Both centers achieved "Best" status and earned a "High Performing" rating specifically for colonoscopy and endoscopy, and urology procedures. This recognition highlights the centers' commitment to delivering exceptional patient outcomes and experiences in a critical area of health care.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) annually assigns star ratings to hospitals and medical centers based on performance across various quality areas including, treating heart attacks and pneumonia, readmission rates, and timely and effective care. VMFH hospitals achieving high star ratings included:

• Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle, Wash.) - 5-star rating
• St. Anthony Hospital (Gig Harbor, Wash.) - 5-star rating
• St. Elizabeth Hospital (Enumclaw, Wash.) - 5-star rating
• St. Anne Hospital (Burien, Wash.) - 4-star rating
• St. Francis Hospital (Federal Way, Wash.) - 4-star rating

Notably, less than 10% of facilities nationwide achieve a 5-star rating.

These significant recognitions from leading national health care organizations reflect VMFH's dedication to continuous quality improvement and safe, patient-centered care.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, including 10 hospitals and 300 care sites. Founded in 1891, VMFH embraces its long history of caring for the most vulnerable, especially the poor and underserved, and meeting the evolving health care needs of the vibrant, diverse communities it serves. VMFH is a proud home to the Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and the Benaroya Research Institute, an internationally recognized institution for autoimmune disease research. VMFH is part of CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation’s largest health systems, dedicated to advancing health for all people.