Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center (Brainerd)

523 N 3rd St
Brainerd, MN 56401

General: 218-829-2861
Fax: 218-828-3103

Facility Overview

Rely on Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center for trusted health care close to home. We’re an 80-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 Cancer 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.

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:

*Services may be provided by a visiting medical provider who sees patients here on a limited basis.

**Services may be provided here via a secure video chat with an off-site medical provider.

Learn how we make care convenient for you.

Inpatient Vs. Outpatient Hospital Services

If you have a test or procedure performed at a hospital but are not admitted, you’re an outpatient. Common outpatient procedures may include X-rays, labs, and emergency room visits. If your doctor admits you to the hospital for an overnight stay, you’re typically an inpatient.

One exception to this is if your doctor places you on observation status. In this case, you may stay overnight in the hospital but are still considered an outpatient. If you’re a Medicare patient, your status can affect your coverage. Visit Medicare.gov to learn more.

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. To make an appointment, call 218-828-7580.

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

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. To make an appointment, call 218-828-3113.

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

You’ll also find more services that are a part of our Cancer Center at other locations, including:

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.

24/7 Emergency Room

If you or a loved one have a severe or life-threatening medical concern, rely on our 24-hour emergency room. St. Joseph’s Medical Center has a Level III Trauma Center designation and is a Primary Stroke Center.Info Rest easy knowing life-saving support is as close as your local hospital.

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.

Compliments & Complaints

If you’d like to share a compliment, concern, or suggestion, please contact Ann Bertoch, Senior Patient Relations Specialist. You can also fill out our online compliments and complaints form.

Support Our Hospital

Have you been inspired by the care you or a loved one received? Support your local hospital and clinic by donating to the St. Joseph’s Foundation. The Foundation provides financial support to St. Joseph’s Medical Center and more with help from patients and family members like you.

Parking & Entrance

For emergency care, follow the emergency room signs to our back door off Ivy Street. For all other visits, use our main door off North 3rd Street. We have free valet parking at our main door with patient and visitor parking across the street. We also have many handicapped spaces by the main door.

Free Valet Parking
Enjoy free valet parking Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 4 pm. To use this service, pull up to the main door off North 3rd Street.

Where to Check In
You’ll register for emergency care through the ER doors at the back of our building or for Lakeland Psychiatry Clinic visits on the 4th floor. Otherwise, check in at central registration on the main floor of the hospital.

Patient Information

Explore our patients and visitors section to find information about billing, financial assistance, medical records, patient rights and responsibilities, and more.

Joint Commission Accreditation

Joint Commission Accreditation

This location is accredited by the Joint Commission. This internationally recognized symbol of quality represents our commitment to providing exceptional patient care. View all our awards and recognitions.

Amenities

Whether you’re a patient or a visitor, we want you to feel welcome. Enjoy our onsite amenities, including:

River Grille Cafe

The River Grille Café is our cafeteria on the lower level across from the main elevator. Dine on site for breakfast, lunch, or dinner seven days a week.

Cafeteria Hours
Breakfast 6:45 – 10:30 am daily
Lunch 11 am – 1:30 pm daily
Dinner 4:30 – 6:30 pm daily
Grab-and-go items 1:30 – 7 pm daily

Gift Shop

Pick up fresh flowers, plants, foil balloons, greeting cards, books, candy, toys, jewelry, and more in the gift shop. You’ll find the gift shop in the lobby of St Joseph’s Medical Center. All gift shop proceeds go to the St. Joseph’s Medical Center Auxiliary, which supports patient and staff programs and services.

Order items by phone and have us deliver them to a patient in our hospital. Call 218-828-7359 to place your order.

Gift Shop Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday: 10:30 am – 4 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 4 pm

Onsite Chapel

Visit our chapel on the main floor of St. Joseph’s Medical Center. People of all faiths are welcome to enjoy this tranquil, healing space for meditation and prayer. Learn more about spiritual care at Essentia Health.

Guest Wi-Fi

Take advantage of free guest Wi-Fi.

ATM

Need cash? Look for an ATM by the emergency room.

Volunteer

Help make a difference in the lives of patients, visitors, and staff at St. Joseph’s Medical Center. You don’t need experience to join our family of volunteers. We’ll work with you to find an area that fits your schedule, talents, and interests.

Volunteer Opportunities

Explore volunteer opportunities at our hospital, including:

  • Help desk (Greet guests and answer questions.)
  • Gift shop
  • Popping popcorn in cafeteria
  • Escorting patients or concierge
  • Mailings and special office projects
  • Piano playing
  • Patient advocate (Ask what patients need to make their stay more comfortable.)
  • Department specific help (Cancer Center, endoscopy, Joint Trails Unit, radiation therapy)
  • Comfort cart (Hand out items like magazines, earbuds, lip balm, and eye masks.)
  • Quilt making, book bag assembly
  • And more (Just inquire!)

Benefits of Volunteering

Besides the great feeling you’ll get by helping others, you can also take advantage of:

  • Free meal (up to $6) in cafeteria with four-hour shift
  • Gift shop discount
  • Free flu shot
  • Orientation and training
  • Discounted movie tickets for sale in HR department
  • Special recognition events
  • Awards for first 100 hours and every 500 hours after that

Become a Volunteer

Learn more or apply to volunteer by calling 218-828-7610. Or, download our volunteer application [PDF]. You must be age 14 or older to volunteer.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center Auxiliary

The St. Joseph’s Medical Center Auxiliary helps raise money to fund special projects. These projects improve patient care and comfort and provide scholarships to promising nursing students. To learn more about how you can get involved in fundraising efforts, call 218-828-7610.

Leadership

Meet the leaders of St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

Management

  • Adam Rees, Market Leader
  • Mike Larson, Operations Leader
  • Peter Henry, M.D., Senior Medical Leader
  • Pat DeLong, Market Nursing Leader
  • Dave Pilot, Market Finance Leader

Board of Directors

  • Chuck Albrecht, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Board Chair
  • James Kraft, Frandsen Bank & Trust, Board Vice-Chair
  • Kathy Gaalswyk, Secretary and Treasurer
  • Dianne Kendall, MD, Essentia Health St. Joseph's-Laboratory, Chief of Staff
  • Jennifer Mahling-Stadum, MD, Essentia Health St. Joseph's-Family Medicine, Board Member
  • Mark Ronnei, Grand View Lodge, Board Member
  • Krista Soukup, Blue Cottage Agency, Board Member
  • Sister Luella Wegscheid, College of St. Scholastica Monastery, Board Member
  • Sister Danile Lynch, Benedictine Sisters Benevolent Association, Board Member
  • Dr. Nate Laposky, Essentia Health St. Joseph’s-Emergency Medicine, Board Member
  • Hara Charlier, Central Lakes College, Board Member

History

St. Joseph’s Medical Center has served the Brainerd Lakes area for more than a hundred years. We continue to further the health care mission of the Benedictine Sisters. This includes providing a wide range of services with special concern for the poor and powerless.

History Timeline

1890 | Dr. James Leaworthy Camp opens a 12-bed hospital on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Brainerd to treat injured or ill lumberjacks.

1897 | Dr. Camp asks the Diocese of Duluth to send a few Benedictine Sisters to Brainerd to manage the Camp Hospital.

1901 | Dr. Camp sells the Camp Hospital to the sisters, who rename it St. Joseph’s Hospital. Owning the hospital allows the Benedictine Sisters to fulfill the commission of St. Benedict: “To serve the sick as if they are Christ.”

1902 | The Benedictine Sisters build a new 35-bed hospital.

1922 | A two-story wing is constructed, adding 10 private rooms.

1931 | St. Joseph’s is admitted to the American Hospital Association.

1953 | The new St. Joseph’s Hospital opens.

1955 | St. Joseph’s is accredited by the Joint Commission and its auxiliary is incorporated.

1957 | The hospital’s 2nd floor is remodeled, providing classrooms and other facilities for LPN students.

1971 | St. Joseph’s opens the area’s first Intensive Coronary Care Unit.

1977 | St. Joseph’s expands, adding space for emergency and rehabilitation services and a medical records department.

1983 | The hospital is renamed St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

1984 | The hospital’s north tower is built, adding more space for patient rooms. The Focus Unit opens, offering chemical dependency services.

1985 | St. Joseph’s Medical Center joins the Benedictine Health System.

1989 | St. Joseph’s opens its Family Birthplace, offering a family-centered birth experience.

2004 | Essentia Health is formed as the governance body for the Benedictine Health System.

2005 | A $28-million, 116,000-square-foot expansion and renovation boosts capacity to St. Joseph’s intensive- and progressive-care units.

2007 | St. Joseph’s partners with Brainerd Medical Center to create the nonprofit Brainerd Lakes Integrated Health System.

2010 | Essentia Health fully integrates its health systems to create efficiencies and reduce health care costs.

Online Nursery

Search for baby photos online and share them with your friends and family. Visit our online nursery.

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