SSM St. Joseph Hospital West handles all types of emergencies, no matter how routine or complex. SSM St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake Saint Louis is a state-designated level III trauma center. This means SSM St. Joseph has the systems in place to treat seriously injured and critically ill patients with greater speed and at a higher skill level than the average emergency department.

The trauma center designation is a mark of excellence for the entire hospital. For such certification, the emergency department must exceed established criteria in personnel, training, equipment and supplies. SSM St. Joseph's intensive care, surgery, radiology, laboratory and medical records departments also must pass certification. Most importantly, both hospitals must have the 24-hour availability of board-certified trauma surgeons to maintain their trauma designation.

Excellence in Response
And at SSM St. Joseph, we pledge "Excellence in Response." Our goal is to provide timely, quality service to all who walk through our doors.  And that's exactly why we have initiated our Excellence in Response program.  Through this program, we make the following commitments:

30 Seconds:

• Patients who are having heart attacks
  
• Patients who are suffering from severe injuries from automobile accidents
  
• Patients who have life-threatening or potentially life- or limb-threatening conditions
  

All patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries will be evaluated by a physician within 30 seconds of their arrival in the Emergency Department.

30 Minutes:

• Patients who come to the Emergency Department with minor fractures
  
• Patients with flu-like symptoms
  
• Patients whose condition is unlikely to worsen within the next 30 minutes
  

All patients, regardless of the severity of their illness or injury, will be seen by a physician and/or have their treatment started within 30 minutes of their arrival in the Emergency Department.

Committed To The Challenge
At SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, we see approximately 53,000 patients each year in our Emergency Departments, and that number is growing steadily. Because of the variety and severity of injuries and illnesses we see, it is challenging to deliver on our pledge at all times. We are committed to rapid response, but there are times when our pledge is in effect, due to circumstances beyond our control.  

Those times include:

• When the hospital is on diversion alert plan
  
• When the hospital disaster plan has been implemented
  
• When other hospitals in St. Charles County or SSM DePaul Health Center are on diversion
  
• When there are no available beds at the facility
  

Our Triage System
All Emergency Departments must function on a triage system. That means that priorities for immediate care are based on urgency and the severity of a patient's illness or injury. Once you are evaluated by the triage nurse, and it is your turn to be seen, you will be taken to the treatment area and seen by a doctor. Again, this is according to the severity of your illness or injury.

Cardinal Glennon Pediatric Express
Chest Pain Center
Get with the Guidelines Stroke Center
Know the Warning Signs
What to expect in the St. Joseph Hospital West
emergency room