St. Joseph’s Level I Trauma Center

The exterior of the trauma center at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz.
St. Joseph’s Hospital has been a leader in trauma care for decades. In fact, it has achieved a number of firsts for Arizona: the first Medical Emergency Assistance Program (the precursor to the 9-1-1 system) in 1970, the first Level I Trauma Center rated for both neurological and trauma cases in 1983 and the first Trauma Research Laboratory in 1986. Today, St. Joseph’s Level I Trauma Center continues its leadership role in advancing excellence in trauma care throughout Arizona, and it maintains Level I verification from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma—independent proof that the center is equipped and staffed to care for the worst traumatic injuries 24 hours a day.

In 2015 SJHMC became the only hospital nationwide to have Joint Commission Certification in the care for traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury patients.  

The center diagnoses and treats patients with all types of injuries caused by external force—injuries resulting from car crashes, falls, shootings, stabbings and other injuries. In addition, the center provides medical education to health professionals and conducts research into such important topics as sepsis, a life-threatening infection that can result after severe injuries.