Quality & Safety

Virginia Mason's vision is to be the Quality Leader and transform health care by providing the best medical outcomes and the safest environment for patients and staff. Virginia Mason has made patient safety an organization goal every year since 2005.

The Goal: Zero Defects

To be the Quality Leader requires Virginia Mason to develop a defect-free health care delivery system. At Virginia Mason, the belief is that mistakes are inevitable; however, people can devise systems that detect and correct mistakes before they become defects. "The best outcomes of medical care can only be achieved by establishing the safest possible environment for patients," says Gary S. Kaplan, MD, chairman and CEO. "That means zero defects in the care we provide and 100 percent compliance with critical safety policies. We're seeking perfection in everything we do for patients at Virginia Mason."