How woke is Virginia Mason Franciscan Health?

Introduction

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is a prominent healthcare system in Washington state known for its strong commitment to social activism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Formed through the merger of Virginia Mason and CHI Franciscan, VMFH actively integrates these values into its operations. Here’s a detailed look at its initiatives and how it measures up in terms of wokeness.

Financial Contributions to Progressive Causes

In 2024, contributions totaling $35,749 went predominantly to Democratic candidates and organizations from individuals associated with Virginia Mason Medical Center, a key component of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. These donations came from individual members, employees, owners, and immediate family members.

Prioritization of DEI Policies

The organization maintains transparency in its DEI efforts by publicly sharing its policies and progress on its website.

This public commitment ensures that patients, staff, and the community are well-informed about VMFH’s ongoing dedication to creating an inclusive environment.

According to their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging page: “We are working hard to ensure that all VMFH hospitals, medical centers, and clinics provide an inclusive environment for all patients, visitors, and caregivers. This includes training care teams across our health system on cultural competence, LGBTQ+ care, and understanding and addressing biases.”

 

VMFH also partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine to launch an undergraduate medical training program to increase healthcare diversity and address the shortage of diverse clinicians. 

Mandatory Training Sessions

Part of VMFH’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging commitments is to “expand implicit and unconscious bias training for our team members,” ensuring everyone understands and can reduce biases in their work.

“VMFH is building a trusting environment that empowers our workforce, highlights the diversity of our people and honors the dignity of each person who walks through our doors,” the company explains.

Support for LGBTQ+ Initiatives

VMFH is dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives and offering inclusive and equitable healthcare services. For its initiatives, Virginia Mason Medical Center has been recognized as an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index.

Key efforts include comprehensive health resources for LGBTQ+ patients, including specialized services for transgender and non-binary individuals.

VMFH has also established the role of LGBTQ+ patient advocates to ensure these patients’ needs are met. Their policies explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity, and they provide staff training to deliver culturally competent care.

Additionally, VMFH actively participates in Pride events.

Katerie Chapman, president of Virginia Mason Medical Center said: “As part of our responsibility to provide inclusive care to all we serve, we are committed to providing welcoming, compassionate care for our LGBTQ+ patients and their families.”

Marketing and Branding

VMFH engages in brand activism by publicly committing to values that align with its mission and diverse patient base. Their strategy includes open support for DEIB initiatives and LGBTQ+ health, as recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

VMFH offers Community Health Improvement Grants to address social determinants of health through nonprofit organizations.

Furthermore, they show a commitment to environmental sustainability. They implement multiple initiatives to reduce their ecological footprint and address climate change in healthcare.

According to their Sustainability page: “At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we’re making meaningful changes to reduce our environmental footprint and address climate change, to live up to the healthcare tenet of “First, Do No Harm.”

Conclusion

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is committed to social activism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through transparent policies, mandatory bias training, and financial contributions to progressives. Recognized as an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader,” VMFH supports LGBTQ+ patients with specialized services. Collaborating with Morehouse School of Medicine to increase diversity in healthcare, their brand activism and Community Health Improvement Grants program further highlights their dedication to equity, sustainability, and social justice.