SEATTLE – (March 13, 2017) – CHI Franciscan Health and Virginia Mason announced today the formal approval of their clinical partnership and strategic affiliation by the signing of a definitive agreement. With the partnership official, both organizations are exploring several opportunities where their collaboration will benefit communities throughout the Puget Sound.

Possibilities that will be evaluated over the next several months include developing shared centers of excellence for key clinical service lines; examining ways to further improve health care delivery in various communities that both organizations presently serve; and seeking to establish ways to offer greater continuity of care for patients around the region who need services. The organizations also plan to explore jointly offering new programs to new markets in the greater Puget Sound region.

In February, Virginia Mason joined the CHI Franciscan accountable care organization. Called Rainier Health Network, it includes approximately 3,000 physicians and health care providers in King, Pierce and Kitsap, Snohomish, Skagit, Thurston and other counties.

“Both of our organizations have a strategic focus to deliver unparalleled clinical quality, superior patient experiences and exceptional care,” said CHI Franciscan Health CEO Ketul J. Patel. “Together, we will leverage our mutual strengths and further develop our partnership to benefit communities throughout the Puget Sound.”

“I’m excited about this affiliation and what it means for Virginia Mason, CHI Franciscan and all the patients we will serve as we collaborate to provide the highest quality health care,” said Virginia Mason Chairman and CEO Gary S. Kaplan, MD.

In November 2016, Tacoma-based CHI Franciscan and Seattle-based Virginia Mason announced their letter-of-intent to form a clinical partnership and strategic affiliation while remaining distinct and separate organizations. That partnership is now official with approval of the definitive agreement. It pairs a non-religious organization (Virginia Mason) with a faith-based organization (CHI Franciscan) for the purpose of working together as separate entities to expand access to high quality, safe, appropriate and affordable medical services.

About Virginia Mason Health System
Virginia Mason, founded in 1920, is a nonprofit regional health care system based in Seattle that serves the Pacific Northwest. In the Puget Sound region, the system includes 336-bed Virginia Mason Hospital; a primary and specialty care group practice of approximately 500 physicians; regional medical centers in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kirkland, Issaquah and Lynnwood; Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled-nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed and built specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS; Benaroya Research Institute, which is internationally recognized for autoimmune disease research; and Virginia Mason Institute, which trains health care professionals and others from around the world in the Virginia Mason Production System, an innovative management methodology for continually improving quality, safety and efficiency. Virginia Mason online: VirginiaMason.org

Virginia Mason Health System also includes Virginia Mason Memorial, a 226-bed hospital serving the Yakima Valley in central Washington since 1950. Memorial online: YakimaMemorial.org

Media Contact:
Gale Robinette
Media Relations Manager
Virginia Mason Health System
(206) 341-1509
gale.robinette@VirginiaMason.org