Becker's Names Two Washington Health Systems to Heart List
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and UW Medicine earned spots on a new national ranking of 100 top heart programs.
Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Heart Disease
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Becker's Cardiology recently released its 2026 Great Heart Programs List, recognizing both Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and UW Medicine for their clinical excellence. The institutions were selected based on a process involving industry nominations and extensive editorial research.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights these Washington-based programs for their combination of strong clinical outcomes, adoption of advanced medical technology, and commitment to research. Such honors provide patients with benchmarks for identifying hospitals that deliver high-level specialized cardiac care.
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health surgery outcomes rank in the top 10 percent nationally, while UW Medical Center holds a Platinum Award for ECMO from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.
The players
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
This health system serves the Puget Sound region and maintains top-tier rankings for cardiac surgery outcomes.
UW Medicine
This academic health system operates the only active heart transplant program in Washington state and serves a broad area including Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.
The details
Virginia Mason Medical Center currently maintains a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for procedures including mitral valve repair and coronary artery bypass grafting. Meanwhile, UW Medicine operates the largest heart transplant program in the Pacific Northwest, marking a legacy that began with the region's first successful transplant in 1985.
Timeline
1985: UW Medicine performed the region's first heart transplant.
2026: Virginia Mason and UW Medicine were named to the national list.
Health Landscape
This recognition follows a historical pattern of excellence, marking a continuity from the 1985 regional first heart transplant at UW Medicine. It reflects the ongoing regional specialization in cardiac care as institutions shift toward minimally invasive and robotic procedures.
Residents in Washington can use these rankings to identify facilities with high-performing surgical teams and established transplant programs. Patients should discuss specific treatment options, such as robotic or catheter-based procedures, with their cardiologists at these centers.
The takeaway
Patients evaluating cardiac care centers should prioritize institutions that hold third-party ratings from organizations like the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. These designations often indicate a commitment to data-driven surgical improvements and advanced patient safety protocols.
Further reading
Learn more about local cardiac care at Washington Heart Disease.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lynnwood Times.
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