VMFH Hospitals Earn Recognition for Excellence in Maternity and Rural Care

Dec. 18, 2025

   
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is proud to announce significant national recognition for its commitment to high-quality health care with accolades for maternity and rural care by U.S. News & World Report and Chartis. These recognitions underscore VMFH's more than 100-year legacy of serving underserved communities across the Puget Sound region.

“Ensuring access to high-quality care close to home for our patients is our top priority,” said Chad Melton, Interim President, Puget Sound Market, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. “These recognitions highlight our longstanding commitment to expanding and sustaining access to care and serving the underserved. None of this would be possible without the compassion and dedication our team members show to every patient who trusts us with their care.”

U.S. News & World Report recognizes VMFH hospitals for maternity care

Four VMFH hospitals were named a 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital for Maternity Care:

• St. Joseph Medical Center (Tacoma, Wash.)
• St. Michael Medical Center (Silverdale, Wash.)
• St. Anne Hospital (Burien, Wash.)
• St. Francis Hospital (Federal Way, Wash.)

U.S. News & World Report’s methodology considers objective quality measures, including C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, severe unexpected newborn complication rates, and exclusive breast milk feeding rates. The ratings also acknowledge hospitals that provide services to underserved communities.

“Choosing where to welcome a new baby is one of the most personal health care decisions a family makes,” said Jennifer Winston, PhD, health data scientist at U.S. News. “Expectant parents can use U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care to compare key outcomes and support services at maternity hospitals in their area.”

St. Elizabeth Hospital honored as a top performing rural hospital by Chartis

In addition to the maternal care accolades, St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw was recognized as a Top Performing Rural Hospital by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. This award celebrates rural hospitals demonstrating excellence in quality, outcomes, and patient perspective.

“The areas of quality, outcomes, and patient perspective are cornerstones of health care delivery across rural America, and this year’s Performance Leadership Award recipients are establishing a standard of excellence for their rural peers to follow,” said Michael Topchik, Executive Director, Chartis Center for Rural Health.

These recent distinctions add to VMFH's consistent national recognition for quality excellence and patient care from organizations such as The Leapfrog Group, Newsweek, and CMS.

About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

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, one of the nation’s largest health systems, dedicated to advancing health for all people.