Healthcare System Overview

Facility Overview 

Rely on Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center for trusted health care close to home. We’re a 162-bed hospital and Level III Trauma Center with a 24-hour emergency room. We take pride in bringing a wide range of services to residents and visitors of the Brainerd, Minnesota area.

We’re home to the Marilyn Covey Heart & Vascular Center and the St. Joseph’s Cancer Center. You’ll find us next to the Mississippi River in a setting that promotes good health and healing. As one of Essentia Health’s Catholic facilities, we strive to provide holistic healing for all human life. 

Cancer Center 

Our hospital is home to the Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Cancer Center. We offer advanced cancer treatments, screenings, and clinical research studies near you. Allow us to guide you on your journey toward good health and healing.

Learn more about the specialties and services at our center, including: 

  • Chemotherapy & Immunotherapy
  • Hematology
  • Infusion Therapy
  • Oncology 
You’ll also find more services that are a part of our Cancer Center at other locations, including: 
  • Cancer Rehabilitation at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation Center. 

Cancer Support Programs 
Get extra support to help you through some of the challenges that can come with a cancer diagnosis. Take advantage of our programs, including:

  • Brainerd Lakes Pay It Forward Cancer Fund – a one-time gift for non-medical bills to area cancer patients in treatment
  • Pink Ribbon Cupboard Program – an emergency fund for breast cancer patients in treatment to help with non-medical bills
  • Breast Cancer Survivor Support Group – a free, monthly meeting for current patients and all survivors 
To learn more about these programs, call 218-828-3113 . To apply for aid from the Brainerd Lakes Pay It Forward Cancer Fund, fill out and return the application [PDF]. To donate to the fund, contact the St. Joseph’s Foundation. 

Hospital Services

Whether you need a little help along the road to recovery or around-the-clock medical care, St. Joseph’s Medical Center is here for you. Get healing support near you from a knowledgeable team of medical professionals who offer:

  • Anesthesiology 
  • Birthing Center 
  • Breast Health 
  • Cancer Center 
  • Colorectal Surgery 
  • Community Paramedic Services 
  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scan 
  • Critical Care 
  • Diabetes Education 
  • Dietitian (Inpatient) 
  • Emergency Medicine 
  • Endocrine Surgery 
  • General Surgery 
  • Grief Support 
  • Gynecologic Surgery 
  • Heart & Vascular Center 
  • Hospitalist Services 
  • Imaging & Radiology 
  • Lab Services 
  • Lung Cancer Screening 
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 
  • Mammography 
  • Obstetrics 
  • Occupational Medicine 
  • Occupational Therapy (Inpatient) 
  • Orthopedic Surgery 
  • Ostomy Care 
  • Pediatric Hospitalist Services 
  • Physical Therapy (Inpatient) 
  • Podiatric Surgery 
  • Psychiatry 
  • Speech-Language Therapy (Inpatient) 
  • Spiritual Care 
  • Supportive & Palliative Care 
  • Substance Use Disorder 
  • Urologic Surgery 
  • Vascular Medicine 
  • Vascular Surgery 
  • Wound Care 

Marilyn Covey Heart & Vascular Center

Our hospital is home to the Essentia Health Marilyn Covey Heart & Vascular Center. Our cardiologists and medical teams work together to offer advanced heart and vascular care.

Learn more about the specialties and services at our center, including: 

Baby-friendly® Designated Birthplace 

St. Joseph's Birthing Center is here to support you throughout your birthing experience. We do our best to follow your birth plan while keeping you and your baby as safe and comfortable as possible. As a Baby-friendly® Designated Birthplace, we use best practices to encourage mother-baby bonding and breastfeeding.

https://www.essentiahealth.org/about/ 

Essentia Health – Brainerd Lakes: Awards & Recognition 

  • Joint Commission Accreditations
    Hip Fracture
    Hip Replacement-Gold Seal of Approval
    Hospital
    Knee Replacement-Gold Seal of Approval
    Outpatient Rehabilitation
    Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement
  • Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award recipient 2022
  • Orthopedics
    Healthgrades Five-Star Recipient for Total Hip Replacement in 2022
  • Critical Care
    Healthgrades Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Respiratory Failure for 4 Years in a Row (2019-2022)
  • American College of Radiology
    MRI, 12/28/2018 - 5/28/2022
    Breast MRI, 7/6/2021 - 7/26/2024
    Ultrasound - Obstetrical, Gynecological, General, Vascular, 3/25/2017 - 3/25/2023
    Mammography, 1/19/2017 - 1/19/2020
    Ultrasound - Breast & US Guided Breast Biopsy, 12/14/2016 - 2/24/2023
    Nuclear Medicine - 6/30/2015 - 6/20/2021
    Breast Center of Excellence, 3/1/2020 - 3/1/2024
  • Intersocietal Accreditation Commission
    Nuclear Medicine  (Nuclear Cardiology & General Nuclear Medicine), 7/1/2021 - 6/30/2021
  • National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
    Overall Excellence in Quality and Patient Satisfaction, 2018 - 2019
  • Level III Trauma Center, 6/1/2022
  • Minnesota Department of Health
    Primary Stroke Center Certification, 2/15/2022 - 10/15/2023
  • DNV Stroke Certification
    DNV Certified Primary Stroke Center, 10/15/2021 - 10/15/2023
  • Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Certification, 7/12/2017 - 7/12/2019
  • College of American Pathologists – Laboratory, 6/1/2021 - 6/1/2023
  • National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
    Cancer Center, 3/6/2020 - 3/6/2024
  • American College of Surgeons
    Commission on Cancer Accreditation - Community Cancer Program,   3/9/2020 - 3/9/2024
    Commission on Cancer Accreditation - NAPBC (Breast), 2/8/2021 - 2/8/2024
    Commission on Cancer Accreditation - General Cancer Program, 3/27/2017 - 2/7/2025
  • American Academy of Sleep Medicine Accreditation, 3/9/2022 - 3/9/2027
    Sleep Apnea Testing, 3/9/2022 - 3/9/2027
  • American Diabetes Association
    Diabetes Resource Program, 2/7/2021 - 2/7/2025
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center+ for Hip & Knee Replacement, 11/1/2015 – 11/1/2018
  • Baby-Friendly Designation, 8/5/2020 - 8/5/2025
  • Chartis Center for Rural Health Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals Award, 2020, 2022 & 2023
  • Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Honor Roll Gold Award 

© Copyright 2023 Pacific Companies. All Rights Reserved.