ACS Designates Saint Joseph London a Level III Trauma Center

LONDON, Ky. (May 6, 2026) – Saint Joseph London earned designation from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level III trauma center. This designation recognizes hospitals and trauma centers as part of the ACS Trauma Verification, Review, and Consultation (TVRC) quality program. This program sets standards of excellence in trauma care. 

Level III trauma centers serve rural communities – allowing patients to receive prompt care for mild to moderate injuries or conditions closer to home. As a verified Level III trauma center, Saint Joseph London has demonstrated the ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, emergency surgery and stabilization to patients requiring emergency care. 

“Saint Joseph London is proud to be recognized by the ACS,” said John Yanes, President, Saint Joseph London. “This designation demonstrates to London and surrounding communities our commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care during our patients’ most challenging moments. Achievements like this are made possible by the high-quality care our caregivers show to the patients and families that enter our doors every single day.”

In addition to the TVRC program, the hospital also participates in the ACS Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP), which collects data to help hospitals set benchmarks, track outcomes, compare results and ultimately improve the clinical care they provide to trauma patients. Participation in quality programs aim to elevate the quality of care for patients through data collection, feedback about performance and identifying opportunities for improvement in institutional processes and care delivery.

“As a rural care facility, Saint Joseph London is proud to have earned Level III trauma designation from ACS to provide our patients with peace of mind and the highest quality care,” said Lori Coots, Market Director of Emergency Services for Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Berea and Saint Joseph Mount Sterling. “Our teams work hard to care for our patients, and this designation represents their commitment to humankindness, quality and excellence in trauma care.”

Learn more about ACS quality programs. 

About Saint Joseph Health

Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 15 cities, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services to build a healthier future for all. Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph London

Saint Joseph London is a 150-bed full-service hospital located in London, KY. Established in 1926, the facility serves patients from southeastern Kentucky, including those from Clay, Laurel, Jackson, Whitley, Knox and Pulaski counties. The current $152 million regional hospital opened in 2010, and offers all private patient rooms, with most overlooking a small lake and garden on the 52-acre healing environment.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has approximately 95,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.