Virginia Mason Medical Center
Encyclopedia
Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC), founded in 1920, is a private, non-profit organization located in Seattle, Washington.
The organization was named after the daughters of its two founders: Dr. Tate Mason's daughter, Virginia Mason, and Dr. John Blackford's daughter, Virginia Mason Blackford.
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The group offers a system of integrated health services. The medical center includes:
Virginia Mason's centers of excellence include:
(TPS). Named the Virginia Mason Production System, Virginia Mason was the first health care institution to implement the TPS philosophy throughout the institution. The two main tenets of this system are to 1. minimize waste through just-in-time production and 2. eliminate defects in the system by empowering staff to "stop the line" whenever they detect a patient safety or quality problem. The problem is then analyzed and a solution tested out in a Rapid Process Improvement Workshop (RPIW). The VMPS is reported to have saved the institution $12 to 15 million over the course of six years. Their efforts have resulted in VM being named one of the Leapfrog Group's top hospitals for the past several years.
Organization
Gary S. Kaplan, MD, serves as chairman and CEO.The organization was named after the daughters of its two founders: Dr. Tate Mason's daughter, Virginia Mason, and Dr. John Blackford's daughter, Virginia Mason Blackford.
Services
VMMC is the operator of Virginia Mason HospitalVirginia Mason Hospital
Virginia Mason Hospital is a hospital in Seattle, Washington, part of the Virginia Mason Medical Center.-Overview:The hospital is known for its programs to reduce healthcare operating costs...
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The group offers a system of integrated health services. The medical center includes:
- a large, multi-specialty group practice of more than 480 physicians, offering both primary and specialized care;
- a regional network of neighborhood clinics including sports and occupational medicine facilities;
- an acute care hospital licensed for 336 beds;
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, an internationally recognized research institute;
- an active philanthropic foundation;
- Bailey-Boushay House, a nursing residence and day health center for people living with AIDS;
- the home of VMPS, the Virginia Mason Production System, a "Lean Healthcare" initiative based on the "Toyota Production System"
Virginia Mason's centers of excellence include:
- Benaroya Diabetes Center, the oldest, largest and most comprehensive diabetes center in the Pacific Northwest.
- Center for Hyperbaric Medicine, the Northwest’s regional referral center for hyperbaric medicine.
- Digestive Disease Institute, cited by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation for gastroenterological care.
- Floyd & Delores Jones Cancer Institute
- Heart Institute
- Neuroscience Institute
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Urology
Medical Education
Virginia Mason is also an academic teaching institution with residency programs including:- Anesthesiology
- Internal Medicine
- General Surgery
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Transitional Intern Year
Virginia Mason Production System
In 2002, Virginia Mason spearheaded an effort to improve patient safety and quality of care by adopting the Toyota Production SystemToyota Production System
The Toyota Production System is an integrated socio-technical system, developed by Toyota, that comprises its management philosophy and practices. The TPS organizes manufacturing and logistics for the automobile manufacturer, including interaction with suppliers and customers...
(TPS). Named the Virginia Mason Production System, Virginia Mason was the first health care institution to implement the TPS philosophy throughout the institution. The two main tenets of this system are to 1. minimize waste through just-in-time production and 2. eliminate defects in the system by empowering staff to "stop the line" whenever they detect a patient safety or quality problem. The problem is then analyzed and a solution tested out in a Rapid Process Improvement Workshop (RPIW). The VMPS is reported to have saved the institution $12 to 15 million over the course of six years. Their efforts have resulted in VM being named one of the Leapfrog Group's top hospitals for the past several years.