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Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Seattle Seahawks, and Nick of Time Partner to Bring Free Live-Saving Heart Screening To Youth
Feb. 28, 2025
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH), the Seattle Seahawks, and Nick of Time Foundation are teaming up to offer free heart screening to area youth. The second annual event is being held at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Saturday, March 8, for anyone between the ages of 12-24.
According to the Nick of Time Foundation, the leading cause of death in young athletes on the playing field is an undetected heart condition. Last year, more than 500 youth were screened and 12 abnormal results found, allowing these students to seek appropriate follow-up care.
"We're incredibly proud to partner with the Seattle Seahawks and the Nick of Time Foundation to bring this comprehensive heart screening event to our community," says Ketul J. Patel, CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President of CommonSpirit Health's Northwest Region. "This event provides crucial preventative care, allowing for early detection and treatment of potential heart conditions. The success of last year's event, which identified several cases needing follow-up, underscores the vital role these screenings play in keeping our kids healthy and active.”
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025
- Location: Virginia Mason Athletic Center – 12 Seahawks Way, Renton, Wash.
- Time: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- An appointment is required. Sign up here.
Screenings include a heart health survey and family history, blood pressure reading and physical exam, and an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), a noninvasive test that measures activity of the heart. An on-site echocardiogram is conducted in cases with a positive finding on history, physical exam, or EKG. Participants will also receive instruction on "hands-only" CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to assist with CPR.
The Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Center for Cardiovascular Care is nationally recognized for expert and highly specialized care by such organizations as the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, U.S. News & World Report and the Foundation for Health Care Quality. More information is available at the Center for Cardiovascular Health. Read more about last year’s event through the eyes of a participant here.
About the Nick of Time Foundation
Based in Mill Creek, WA, the vision of Nick of Time Foundation was created in memory of Nick Varrenti, a multi-sport athlete who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and died at age 16. Nick of Time programs work together to help protect our young people and communities by providing heart health awareness for young people, early detection of undiagnosed heart abnormalities, and emergency action planning for schools and communities that includes CPR/AED education. Learn more at www.nickoftimefoundation.org.
About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, including 10 hospitals and nearly 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.