An In-Depth Look into the Healthcare System
A Robust Regional Hospital Anchoring Your Oncology Practice
The hospital where you’ll perform inpatient rounding — St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton — is a well-established, full-service regional facility and the largest in San Joaquin County. It supports a broad range of care and offers a strong infrastructure for oncology practice.
Institutional Profile
- 355 licensed beds make St. Joseph’s a major regional medical center, ensuring breadth of services and operational capacity.
- The hospital employs roughly 2,300–2,700 staff including around 900 physicians — reflecting a sizeable, stable workforce and a large clinical support network.
- As a not-for-profit hospital, it is part of the Dignity Health network.
Cancer Care Infrastructure
- The hospital is home to a dedicated Cancer Institute at Dignity Health - St. Joseph's Medical Center, providing comprehensive oncologic services including medical oncology, chemotherapy and infusion, radiation therapy (including stereotactic ablative radiotherapy), and surgical oncology options.
- Support services for oncology patients include patient navigation, supportive counseling, education, a cancer research library, screening programs (e.g. lung-cancer screening), and a medication assistance liaison program to help with high-cost infusions.
- Infusion services are available at the Cancer Institute or within the hospital system, facilitating seamless outpatient oncology care when needed.
Hospital Reputation and Quality Measures
- St. Joseph’s has earned an “A” safety grade from The Leapfrog Group, reflecting strong commitment to patient safety standards.
- The hospital was named among “America’s 250 Best Hospitals”, underscoring its performance across common conditions and procedures.
- It is a fully accredited regional hospital and one of the largest employers in the county, indicating stability and institutional strength.
How This Supports Your Role as Hematology/Oncology Physician
- The hospital’s robust cancer-care infrastructure ensures you will have access to high-quality infusion suites, radiation therapy, surgical oncology, and support services — enabling you to offer comprehensive care to your patients.
- The size and scope of the hospital (large bed count, wide service offerings, strong staffing) suggest sufficient inpatient volume — helpful given the 7–12 patient census described for inpatient call weeks.
- Affiliation with Dignity Health and the presence of a comprehensive Cancer Institute provide institutional credibility, access to multidisciplinary collaboration (surgical, radiation, supportive care), and potential access to clinical research or referral networks if the group supports it.
- Recognition for safety and quality suggests a stable, patient-focused environment that aligns with a sustainable, long-term oncology practice.
