Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting St Joseph Medical Center
- Photo ID and your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card
- A list of your medicines, doses and allergies
- Your doctor's name and phone number
- A phone charger
Official links: Website for St Joseph Medical Center (opens the hospital's site)
Nearby hospitals
- 1.1mi Mary Bridge Child Hospital & Health Tacoma, WA · Emergency room Call Mary Bridge Child Hospital & Health Directions to Mary Bridge Child Hospital & Health (Google Maps) Details for Mary Bridge Child Hospital & Health
- 1.1mi Tacoma General Hospital Tacoma, WA · Emergency room · median ER visit 3 hr 28 min Call Tacoma General Hospital Directions to Tacoma General Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Tacoma General Hospital
- 1.6mi Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital Tacoma, WA Call Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital Directions to Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital (Google Maps) Details for Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital
Quick answers about St Joseph Medical Center
How long is the ER wait at St Joseph Medical Center?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 3 hr 31 min in the St Joseph Medical Center emergency room (the average across Washington hospitals is 2 hr 49 min). 1% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (253) 426-4101. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for St Joseph Medical Center?
The main phone number for St Joseph Medical Center is (253) 426-4101, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (253) 426-4101What is the address of St Joseph Medical Center?
St Joseph Medical Center is at 1717 S J St, Tacoma, WA 98405.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does St Joseph Medical Center have an emergency room?
Yes. St Joseph Medical Center has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is St Joseph Medical Center's Medicare star rating?
St Joseph Medical Center has an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Star ratings come from CMS quality and safety measures, not patient reviews.
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at St Joseph Medical Center spend a median of 3 hours 31 minutes there. That is 42 minutes longer than the average across Washington hospitals (2 hours 49 minutes).
Source: CMS Hospital General Information and Timely & Effective Care. Wait times are a median over a past 12-month reporting period, not live data. Not affiliated with CMS or with St Joseph Medical Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Washington · How Washington hospitals rank on star ratings · Other birthing-friendly hospitals in Washington · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 474 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave St Joseph Medical Center a 3-star patient experience rating out of 5. 66% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 62% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.
The patient survey (HCAHPS) asks a random sample of adult patients about their recent hospital stay. CMS adjusts the results for the mix of patients and how the survey was done, so hospitals can be compared fairly. About the data.
Compare St Joseph Medical Center
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Of the 6 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare, St Joseph Medical Center was better than the national benchmark on 4 and worse on 0. Its rate of serious complications was same as national.
Hospital-acquired infections
Serious complications
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart attack patients | 12.3% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 12.4% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 16.2% | 15.2% |
| Stroke patients | 10.3% | 11.9% |
| COPD patients | 9.2% | 8.6% |
| Coronary bypass (CABG) surgery patients | 1.9% | 2.4% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.4% | 3.9% |
Risk-adjusted rates. CMS has not published a statistical better/worse comparison for these death rates in the current release, so small differences from the U.S. rate may be chance.
Other complications
None of the other safety indicators CMS compares was statistically better or worse than national.
All 12 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 5.1 | 4.1 | Not compared |
| Deaths among surgical patients with serious treatable complicationsper 1,000 patients | 188.25 | 173.3 | Same as national |
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 0.11 | 0.63 | Same as national |
| Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients | 0.24 | 0.27 | Same as national |
| Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients | 0.18 | 0.21 | Same as national |
| Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 2.08 | 2.34 | Same as national |
| Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.02 | 1.67 | Same as national |
| Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 8.67 | 9.42 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 3.28 | 3.52 | Same as national |
| Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 6.74 | 5.27 | Same as national |
| Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients | 1.82 | 1.77 | Same as national |
| Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients | 0.9 | 1.06 | Same as national |
"Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national benchmark statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Infection results compare the infections a hospital reported with the number predicted for a hospital of its size and type (a ratio below 1 means fewer than predicted), for Oct 2024 – Sep 2025. Death and complication rates are risk-adjusted for how sick patients were. Each death rate counts deaths within 30 days of a hospital stay, pooled over one to three years of Medicare patients depending on the measure. About the data.
Health insurance at St Joseph Medical Center
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 500108). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
Washington runs its own exchange, Washington HealthPlanFinder. Check its provider directory for St Joseph Medical Center.
Source: the insurers' 2027 machine-readable provider files listed in the CMS Marketplace public use files, loaded November 4, 2026, matched to hospitals by NPI from CMS Hospital Enrollments. How we match networks to hospitals Networks change; confirm with your insurer before you go.
Readmissions and return visits
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Medicare patients · Jul 2023 – Jun 2025
On the 4 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, St Joseph Medical Center was no different from the national rate or its expected level.
Back in the hospital within 30 days
| After a stay for | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart attack | 13.1% | 14.4% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 19.1% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 16% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 20.9% | 20% | Not compared |
| Heart bypass surgery (CABG) | 10.6% | 11% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 5.6% | 5.8% | Not compared |
Return trips after a stay or procedure
Medicare's readmission program
Excess readmission ratio: this hospital's predicted readmissions divided by the number expected for a typical hospital with the same patients. Above 1.00 means more readmissions than expected. 1 of 5 conditions is above 1.00.
| Condition | Ratio | Patients | Readmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| COPD | 1.058 | 62 | More than expected |
| Heart attack | 0.998 | 220 | Fewer than expected |
| Pneumonia | 0.987 | 189 | Fewer than expected |
| Heart bypass surgery | 0.964 | 110 | Fewer than expected |
| Heart failure | 0.871 | 445 | Fewer than expected |
Readmission rates count Medicare patients who were admitted to any acute-care hospital within 30 days of leaving this one, adjusted for how sick they were. "Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national rate statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Return-day and outpatient-surgery measures compare the hospital with what CMS expected for its own patients. The Readmissions Reduction Program ratios are shown as CMS publishes them; whether a hospital's payments are reduced depends on how its ratios compare with similar hospitals, so a ratio above 1.00 alone doesn't mean a penalty. About the data.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
St Joseph Medical Center's emergency department is classed by CMS as high volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S.* |
|---|---|---|
| Sepsis: got all recommended early treatmentPatients with severe sepsis or septic shock who received every step of the recommended early care bundle. Higher is better. 311 patients. | 54% | 65% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 80 patients. | 52% | 73% |
| Typical time in the ER before going homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving, for ER patients sent home (not counting mental health patients or transfers). Lower is better. 369 patients. | 211 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 29 patients. | 384 min | 257 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 46,068 patients. | 1% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 4,472 patients. | 80% | 78% |
| Discharged on two opioids, or an opioid and a benzodiazepinePatients sent home with prescriptions that raise the risk of overdose when combined. Lower is better. 6,419 patients. | 11% | 15% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 43 patients. | 98% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 8,778 patients. | 87% | 90%* |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 2,466 patients. | 98% | 97%* |
| Stroke: clot prevention started by day 2Higher is better. 446 patients. | 93% | 94%* |
CMS publishes these process-of-care measures without a better/worse verdict, so the U.S. figure is shown for context; small differences, or results based on few patients, may not mean much. *Median of all hospitals CMS reports, where CMS publishes no national figure. About the data.
Maternity care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · reported by the hospital · Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
Maternity measures are reported by hospitals that deliver babies. The U.S. figure is the median of the hospitals CMS reports, not a CMS verdict. About the data.
Medicare spending and payment programs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program cuts Medicare payments by 1% for the quarter of hospitals with the worst scores. The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program withholds a small share of every hospital's Medicare payments and pays it back according to the total performance score. A spending ratio of 1.00 equals the national median; spending reflects prices, the services patients received and care after discharge, not quality. Some hospitals, such as critical access, children's and cancer hospitals, are not part of these programs. About the data.
Care after a stay at St Joseph Medical Center
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 1.6mi Avamere at Pacific Ridge Tacoma, WA · 102 beds Medicare overall 2 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 2 of 5
- 2.0mi Park Rose Care Center Tacoma, WA · 139 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 4 of 5
- 3.2mi Alaska Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Tacoma, WA · 123 beds Medicare overall 1 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 1.1mi DaVita Tacoma Dialysis CenterTacoma, WA
- 2.6mi DaVita Greater Tacoma Home TrainingTacoma, WA
- 2.6mi Fresenius Kidney Care South TacomaTacoma, WA
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 0.6mi Multicare Good Samaritan Home HealthTacoma, WA · 81% would recommend
- 2.6mi Puget Sound Home HealthTacoma, WA · 82% would recommend
- 2.6mi Centerwell Home HealthTacoma, WA · 72% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 0.6mi Multicare HospiceTacoma, WA · 85% would recommend
- 0.6mi Pnw HospiceTacoma, WA Not rated
- 1.1mi Envision HospiceTacoma, WA · 90% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at St Joseph Medical Center
783 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 34 specialties.
Find doctors in Tacoma
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Tacoma, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. St Joseph Medical Center lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (www.chifranciscan.org/cms-hpt.txt), checked Nov 7, 2026. For an estimate of what you'll pay, ask the hospital or your insurer; Medicare's averages are on our procedure cost pages.
What Medicare paid at St Joseph Medical Center
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · original Medicare patients · 2024
Average hospital charges and actual payments for the procedures Medicare patients most often had here, compared with the average for Washington.
Hospital stays
| Stay | Stays | Avg billed | Avg payment (Medicare + patient) | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 | 286 | $116,836 | $19,473 | +6% |
| Acute myocardial infarction, discharged alive with major complicationsDRG 280 | 125 | $98,432 | $14,928 | +3% |
| Percutaneous and other intracardiac procedures without major complicationsDRG 274 | 107 | $189,425 | $28,251 | −4% |
| Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 | 104 | $72,754 | $13,021 | +7% |
| Infectious and parasitic diseases with operating room procedures with major complicationsDRG 853 | 70 | $298,995 | $47,386 | −3% |
| Endovascular cardiac valve replacement and supplement procedures with major complicationsDRG 266 | 65 | $357,524 | $60,959 | +2% |
| Intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction with major complicationsDRG 064 | 64 | $131,825 | $19,914 | +6% |
| Miscellaneous disorders of nutrition, metabolism, fluids and electrolytes with major complicationsDRG 640 | 52 | $69,579 | $12,115 | −6% |
Outpatient services
| Service | Services | Avg billed | Avg allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Endovascular ProceduresAPC 5191 | 193 | $35,690 | $3,313 |
| Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 | 156 | $31,510 | $2,749 |
| Level 3 Electrophysiologic ProceduresAPC 5213 | 138 | $159,016 | $24,238 |
| Level 2 Upper GI ProceduresAPC 5302 | 127 | $16,338 | $1,925 |
| Level 2 Laparoscopy and Related ServicesAPC 5362 | 115 | $114,185 | $10,316 |
Charges are the hospital's list prices; payments are what Medicare, the patient and any other insurer actually paid (for outpatient services, Medicare's allowed amount). Private insurance prices differ. "vs state" compares this hospital's average payment with the state average for the same stay. All procedure costs.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending Jun 2025
As reported by the hospital to CMS; not audited. Operating margin is income from patient care divided by net patient revenue and leaves out investment income and donations. Compare Washington hospital finances.
Who owns St Joseph Medical Center
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Commonspirit Washington, a non-profit organization, incorporated 1995.
1,500 doctors and other clinicians list St Joseph Medical Center as a hospital affiliation in Medicare's clinician directory.
Organizations with 5% or more ownership (directly or through other companies), partnership interests or operational control, as the hospital reported them to Medicare. Records can lag behind recent sales. Individuals are not listed. Who owns America's hospitals.
The area around St Joseph Medical Center
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Pierce are federally designated health professional shortage areas (7 designations). Highest shortage score 16.
Mental health: Parts of Pierce are federally designated health professional shortage areas (6 designations). Highest shortage score 16.
Dental: Parts of Pierce are federally designated health professional shortage areas (4 designations). Highest shortage score 18.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Washington earn a median $124,200 a year. Healthcare salaries in Washington.
Shortage areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration where there are too few primary care, mental health or dental providers for the population; scores run from 0 to 25 for primary and mental health care and 0 to 26 for dental care, higher meaning greater need. Washington shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in Washington
Registered nurses across Washington (all employers) earned a median of $124,200 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in WashingtonNurse Practitioner salary in WashingtonRespiratory Therapist salary in WashingtonHealthcare salaries in Washington
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Cite this data
Writing about St Joseph Medical Center? You're welcome to quote these figures. They are free to use under CC BY 4.0: please credit HospitalsInEachState.com and link to this page.