Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Leads The Way In High-quality Orthopedic Care

August 20, 2021

St. Anne Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Anthony Hospital, St. Michael Medical Center, St. Clare Hospital, and St. Elizabeth Hospital recognized for their commitment to providing high-quality orthopedic care 

Tacoma and Seattle, Washington – Several Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospitals, including St. Anne Hospital in Burien, St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw, earned top accreditations and certifications for providing high-quality orthopedic care to patients.

“We strive to offer the best care for our patients. These acknowledgements reflect Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s commitment to prioritizing the needs of our patients,” said Eula Ramroop, Executive Division Director of the Orthopedic Service Line. “We are proud of our orthopedic service line for providing high-quality care.”

St. Anne Hospital in Burien, St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, and St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood received recognition from The Joint Commission, for their Disease Specific Certifications in elective Total Hip Replacement and elective Total Knee Replacement. The Joint Commission is an enterprise of quality improvement and patient care practices that help organizations reach rigorous quality standards.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is the only health care system in Western Washington to hold an active certification with The Joint Commission for elective Total Knee and Hip Replacement distinctions. To earn the award, The Joint Commission conducted an on-site visit to evaluate compliance with key measurements including evidence-based care and clinical practice guidelines. The certification’s focus also includes transitions of care from the pre-surgical orthopedic consultation to the intraoperative, hospitalization, rehabilitation activities, and follow-up visits with the orthopedic surgeon.

St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale and St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor were both accredited as a Center of Excellence in Joint Replacement by the Surgical Review Corporation — an independent organization that administers best-in-class accreditation programs for medical professionals, surgeons, hospitals and freestanding outpatient facilities globally.

To achieve an accreditation, Surgical Review Corporation performs a comprehensive on-site inspection to ensure the hospital meets all requirements. The inspection process is divided into four parts: document submission, medical chart review, interviews and facility assessment. Each report also provides recommendations to continue refining quality improvement and patient safety.

Surgical Review Corporation also recognized surgeons at both hospitals that demonstrate top excellence in joint replacement: Erin Moyer, MD and Bradley Watters, MD with St. Michael Medical Center; Lance Bear, MD and Matthew B. Beck, MD with St. Anthony Hospital.

Lastly, St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw and St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way received the Blue Distinction Center for quality Knee and Hip Replacement Surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) — a national organization with an award program that recognizes high-quality care and distinguished doctors across the country. The selection process balances quality, cost, and accessibility to ensure exceptional care. Now all of the VMFH Hospitals hold the Blue distinction for Premera and Regence patients.

The following is a summary of orthopedic accolades for these Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospitals:

The Disease-Specific Certification of Distinction for Total Hip and Knee Replacement from The Joint Commission (TJC).

• St. Anne Hospital in Burien
• St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way
• St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma
• St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood

The Center of Excellence in Joint Replacement – Hip, Knee, and Shoulder from Surgical Review Corporation (SRC).

• St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor
• St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale

Blue Distinction Center (BDC) for quality Knee and Hip Replacement Surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).

• St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw
• St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way
• St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor
• St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood
• St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma
• St. Michael Medical Center, Silverdale
• Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle

Learn more about our Total Joint Replacement Program or request an appointment with one of the Orthopedic specialists.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region of Washington state, offering access to some of the country’s most prestigious experts and hospitals that are internationally known for superior quality. With a team of 18,000 team members, including nearly 5,000 employed physicians and affiliated providers, we unite the brightest health care minds in the region to provide world-class clinical excellence at 11 hospitals and nearly 300 sites of care throughout the Puget Sound area. We are proud to be the home of 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 Benaroya Research Institute, which is internationally recognized for autoimmune disease research. We embrace our community’s uniquely vibrant, active culture by providing holistic, personalized and patient-centered care. We are committed to caring for the most vulnerable in our communities, including the poor and underserved, providing more than $300 million in community benefit — free, subsidized, and reduced cost health care and programs.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health was formed in 2021 by bringing together two leading health systems in Washington state. Our family of hospitals includes Virginia Mason Hospital, Seattle; St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor; St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood; St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw; St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way; St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma; St. Michael Medical Center, Silverdale; St. Anne Hospital, Burien; Rehabilitation Hospital, Tacoma; and Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital, Tacoma.