Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Seattle Children’s Announce Strategic Affiliation to Advance Pediatric Care in the Puget Sound Region
4.29.25
New collaboration builds on a 15-year history, enhancing access to high-quality care for moms, babies and children
TACOMA and SEATTLE, WA – April 29, 2025 – Today, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) and Seattle Children’s announced a strategic affiliation to advance clinical excellence and expand pediatric and mother-baby care for patients in the Puget Sound region. The agreement, built on nearly 15 years of collaboration and a shared commitment to exceptional patient care, will strengthen access to expert physicians and care teams and ensure seamless coordination of care for young patients and their families by extending the current longstanding affiliation and expanding it to new areas.
Access to high-quality health care continues to be a top challenge for Puget Sound region residents. With this strategic affiliation, VMFH and Seattle Children’s will leverage resources and an expansive footprint across both organizations to serve more patients closer to home.
“This affiliation marks a significant step forward in our mission to improve health care access for mothers, babies and children,” said Ketul J. Patel, CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and President of CommonSpirit Health's Northwest Region. “Seattle Children’s is a globally recognized leader in pediatric medicine, and we’re honored to work alongside them to further elevate the standard of care in our communities.”
Seattle Children’s consistently ranks as a top ten children's hospital in the country, and likewise, VMFH hospitals are ranked among the best in the nation. For nearly 15 years, VMFH has collaborated with Seattle Children’s to provide specialized neonatal care within VMFH Family Birth Centers with neonatologists available onsite and by phone 24/7 so the most vulnerable newborns can receive advanced, expert care without leaving VMFH facilities. Access to additional specialty care is also available to pediatric patients. For example, at the St. Joseph Medical Center (Tacoma) Level III NICU, patients may be seen by Seattle Children’s pediatric cardiologists and its infection prevention team to assess complex diseases for mother and baby.
“We are proud of our long-standing reputation for excellence in pediatric and neonatal care," said Jeff Sperring, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Children’s. “Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is a recognized leader in quality care and clinical excellence, and we’re excited to work together to continue fulfilling our vision of helping every child live their healthiest and most fulfilling life possible.”
The new strategic affiliation will expand perinatal, neonatal and related specialty services across VMFH Birth Centers in King, Pierce and Kitsap counties, supporting thousands of families and reducing separation of mom and baby.
In addition to advancements in perinatal and neonatal care, the organizations aim to improve access to pediatric specialists throughout VMFH’s extensive network of nearly 300 care sites. By strengthening these connections, VMFH and Seattle Children’s can create a comprehensive system of pediatric and mother-baby care across primary, specialty, ambulatory and urgent care, ensuring children receive the right care at the right time while providing seamless transitions to Seattle Children’s specialists when necessary.
A strategic oversight committee, with representatives from both organizations, will guide the implementation of the strategic affiliation to best benefit young patients and families.
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. Learn more at www.vmfh.org.
About Seattle Children’s
Seattle Children’s mission is to provide hope, care and cures to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. Together, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Research Institute and Foundation deliver superior patient care, identify new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research, and raise funds to create better futures for patients.
Ranked as one of the top children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Children’s serves as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho – the largest region of any children’s hospital in the country. As one of the nation’s top five pediatric research centers, Seattle Children’s Research Institute is internationally recognized for its work in neurosciences, immunology, cancer, infectious disease, injury prevention and much more. Seattle Children’s Foundation, along with Seattle Children’s Guild Association – the largest all-volunteer fundraising network for any hospital in the country – works with our generous community to raise funds for lifesaving care and research.
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