Trauma Services at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health provides trauma care to thousands of people each year in Washington state, with seven trauma centers of various levels throughout the Puget Sound region.

The Washington State Department of Health categorizes trauma centers from Level I to V, with Level I providing the highest level of services.

Traumatic injuries can be life threatening and are the leading cause of death and disability for people under age 44. The time from injury to a highly specialized trauma hospital is critical in saving lives and decreasing disabilities. Trauma Centers provide the level of care that can make the difference between life and death.

How do I request a trauma transfer for a patient as a health care provider?

Call the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Trauma Transfer Line at (855) 872-8626 (855-TRAUMA6).

The Level II Trauma Center at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma is open to EMS arrivals and trauma transfers from hospitals inside and outside of the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health system with patients requiring a higher level of care.

Learn more about the Patient Transfer Center and the Trauma Transfer request process.

Where are your trauma centers located?

Level II Trauma Center

Tacoma – St. Joseph Medical Center: Our Level II Trauma Center serves as the flagship tertiary trauma care facility for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, with board-certified trauma surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, and registered nurses specializing in emergency nursing and trauma care.

Our experienced trauma care team at St. Joseph Medical Center includes:

Trauma critical care/acute care general surgeons
Neurosurgeons
Orthopedic surgeons
Emergency medicine physicians
Anesthesiologists
Radiologists
Intensive care unit (ICU) physicians
Emergency nurses
Critical care nurses
Advanced practice providers
Respiratory therapists
Social workers
Physical/occupational/speech therapists
Case managers

Level III Trauma Center

Silverdale – St. Michael Medical Center

Level IV Trauma Centers

Burien – St. Anne Hospital
Gig Harbor – St. Anthony Hospital
Lakewood – St. Clare Hospital
Federal Way – St. Francis Hospital

Level V Trauma Center

Enumclaw – St. Elizabeth Hospital

Our leadership

Paul Inouye, MD, Trauma Medical Director
Carolynn Morris, Division Director, Trauma Services