Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Hospitals Earn Top Hospital Safety Scores

Nov. 15, 2024

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is proud to announce that all eligible hospitals earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. Hospitals and medical centers recognized include Virginia Mason Medical Center, St. Joseph Medical Center, St. Michael Medical Center, St. Anthony Hospital, St. Clare Hospital, St. Anne Hospital, and St. Francis Hospital. VMFH’s critical access hospital–St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw–is not eligible for a Leapfrog rating. 

“We are tremendously proud of our teams who consistently prioritize patient quality and safety while bringing incredible passion and compassion to the work they do each day,” shared Ketul J. Patel, CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and president of CommonSpirit Health’s Northwest Region. “Years ago, we set out to deliver the highest quality care in our region and to continuously improve together, and this straight A recognition represents our shared commitment to clinical excellence.” 

Leapfrog is an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. 

The “A” grade is the gold standard measure of patient safety for U.S. hospitals. A Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade of "A" is a powerful testament to staff’s dedication and their significant contribution to the community. These hospitals excel in 22 evidence-based measures, leading to improved patient outcomes such as reduced length of stay and mortality rates. 

“Achieving ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grades is a significant accomplishment for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospitals and medical centers,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It reflects enormous dedication to your patients and their families, and your whole community should be proud. I extend my congratulations to VMFH, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for their tireless efforts to put patients first.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospitals consistently rank globally among the best hospitals, with recognition for quality and safety from Leapfrog, Healthgrades, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, among others. 

Full grade details are available at HospitalSafetyGrade.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 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.

About The Leapfrog Group                                                                                   

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.