Two Washington state hospitals tag-team trauma care

Western Washington-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Pacific Northwest-based MultiCare have taken an innovative approach to expanding Level II trauma services in Pierce County. The key? Alternating trauma care between two Tacoma-area hospitals.  

St. Joseph Medical Center and MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital are now rotating trauma care every other day through the Tacoma Trauma Trust, a non-profit 501(c)3 joint level II trauma program. This partnership has enabled care teams to provide 24/7 services to community members with life-threatening injuries. 

The initiative aims to improve the quality and safety of trauma care, reduce patient transfer delays, and set a new standard of excellence. By offering round-the-clock trauma services, the hospitals hope to achieve improved patient outcomes, increased satisfaction and reduced health care costs, ultimately better serving the needs of the Puget Sound region. 

This expansion addresses a gap in care within the growing Tacoma community, which has seen a 16% population increase over the past decade and a rising number of residents over 65 who require higher levels of care. The Washington State Hospital Association reports a nearly 40% increase in trauma care patients since 2019, highlighting the need for enhanced trauma services. 

“Our comprehensive and coordinated approach is designed to enhance the quality and safety of trauma care while streamlining patient transfers and minimizing any potential delays,” said Paul Inouye, medical director of Trauma Services at St. Joseph Medical Center, in a MultiCare press release. “Our goal is to set a new standard of excellence in trauma care, leading to superior patient outcomes, enhanced satisfaction, and reduced health care costs.”