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Best Critical Care Specialists in Tacoma

Written by Andrew Le, MD

Updated November 23, 2024

Introduction to Critical Care Medicine in Tacoma

Definition and importance of Critical Care Medicine

Critical Care Medicine is a specialized field of healthcare that focuses on the diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions. It involves the care of patients with severe and acute illnesses or injuries that require close monitoring and advanced life support.

Critical Care Specialists, also known as intensivists, play a key role in managing patients in intensive care units (ICUs). They coordinate complex treatments, make rapid decisions, and provide comprehensive care to critically ill patients.

Overview of Critical Care services in Tacoma

Tacoma is home to several major hospitals that offer critical care services. Notable institutions include MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, and St. Anthony Hospital. These facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art ICUs and staffed by experienced Critical Care Specialists.

The demand for Critical Care Specialists in Tacoma is significant, reflecting the city's growing population and the increasing complexity of medical care. This specialty is essential in managing a wide range of critical conditions, from severe infections to post-operative complications.


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List of Critical Care Specialists in Tacoma

FH

Dr. Farnaz Houshmand

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(304) 596-6868

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Jefferson Medical Center

Berkeley Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

RW

Dr. Raed Wahab

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(424) 338-8000

American Board of Internal Medicine

LEBANESE UNIVERSITY / FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES / SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (Medical School, 2002)

English

MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Dr. Swapna Muppuri

Dr. Swapna Muppuri

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

Khazar University School of Medicine (Medical School, 2003)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

St. Anthony Hospital

St. Francis Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

IO

Dr. Ifeoma Oriaku

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

Ross University School of Medicine (Medical School, 2016)

English

Temple University Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Sleep Medicine

Internal Medicine

JK

Dr. James Kirsch

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

University of California, Irvine School of Medicine (Medical School, 1988)

English

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Sleep Medicine

Internal Medicine

KS

Dr. Kristen Scatliffe

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(505) 609-6770

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Eastern New Mexico Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Family Medicine

General Medical Practice

Dr. Aparna Kadambi

Dr. Aparna Kadambi

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

UNIVERSITY OF MYSORE / ADICHUNCHANAGIRI INSTITUTEOF MEDICAL SCIENCE (Medical School)

English

St. Francis Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

CC

Dr. Christopher Colombo

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(301) 896-3100

American Board of Internal Medicine

Eastern Virginia Medical School (Medical School)

English

Suburban Hospital

Providence St. Peter Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Internal Medicine

TF

Dr. Thomas Ferrer

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 403-7537

American Board of Surgery

University of Maryland Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 1999)

University Ark (Residency Hospital, 1996)

Barnes - Jewish Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1992)

University of Washington School of Medicine (Medical School, 1991)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

VB

Dr. Veronica Bustillo-Aruca

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English, French, Spanish

Phone

(253) 403-7537

American Board of Surgery

University of Maryland at Baltimore (Medical School, 2010)

English

French

Spanish

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

JH

Dr. Jennifer Hubbard

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital (Fellowship Hospital, 2010)

Loma Linda University Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 2009)

Loma Linda University Medical Center (Internship Hospital, 2003)

Loma Linda University School of Medicine (Medical School, 2002)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

General Surgery

Critical Care Surgery

Trauma Surgery

MT

Dr. Michael Todd

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(530) 542-3000

American Board of Surgery

Saint Francis Medical Center (Medical School, 1993)

English

Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital

Cookeville Regional Medical Center

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

ER

Dr. Eric Raschke

5.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(800) 926-8273

American Board of Surgery

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

MM

Dr. Michael Martin

4.5

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Medical Specialties

American Board of Internal Medicine

Maricopa Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital)

Co Hospital (Internship Hospital)

University of Arizona (Medical School, 1975)

University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (Medical School, 1975)

English

Cardiology

Critical Care Medicine

Internal Medicine

CA

Dr. Charles Anderson

4.3

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine (Medical School, 1986)

English

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center

St. Anthony Hospital

St. Clare Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Sleep Medicine

Internal Medicine

Dr. Sanjay Agarwal

Dr. Sanjay Agarwal

4.1

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Hindi, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Spanish, Urdu, Vietnamese

Phone

(408) 942-0300

University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Fellowship Hospital, 2005)

Michael Reese Hospital (Residency Hospital, 2002)

Bangalore Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi University Of Health Sciences (Medical School, 1995)

English

Hindi

Kannada

Oriya

Punjabi

Spanish

Urdu

Vietnamese

Regional Medical Center of San Jose

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Good Samaritan Hospital

Pulmonary Disease

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine

Dr. Kim-Thuy Truong

Dr. Kim-Thuy Truong

4.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English, Vietnamese

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Vietnamese

Overlake Medical Center & Clinics

Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine

Pediatric Pulmonology

Critical Care Medicine

Dr. Kurt Jensen

Dr. Kurt Jensen

3.7

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 572-5140

American Board of Internal Medicine

Oregon Health & Science University (Medical School, 2003)

English

St. Anthony Hospital

St. Joseph Medical Center

St. Clare Hospital

Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

PI

Dr. Paul Inouye

3.7

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 403-7537

American Board of Surgery

COOPER HOSP/UNIV Medical Center (Residency Hospital)

Or Health Science University Hospital (Residency Hospital)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

DH

Dr. Diana Hansen

3.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

SOUTHWEST COLLEGE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINEHEALTH SCIENCES (Medical School, 2011)

English

Kaweah Health Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Internal Medicine

Dr. Saleh Ismail

Dr. Saleh Ismail

3.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Arabic

American Board of Internal Medicine

American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine (Medical School, 2000)

English

Arabic

Overlake Medical Center & Clinics

Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Sleep Medicine

DM

Dr. Deanna Musfeldt

1.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(360) 754-5858

American Board of Emergency Medicine

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY / CAMDEN CAMPUS (Medical School, 2007)

English

MultiCare Capital Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Emergency Medicine

RJ

Dr. Rutwij Joshi

1.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-4011

American Board of Internal Medicine

UNIVERSIDAD HEBREA ARGENTINA BAR ILAN / FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS (Medical School, 2012)

English

Thomas Hospital

Baptist Medical Center South

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

Dr. Matthew Eckert

Dr. Matthew Eckert

1.0

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(984) 974-0150

American Board of Surgery

Loyola University Chicago School of Dentistry (Medical School, 2004)

English

University of North Carolina Hospital

General Surgery

Critical Care Surgery

CK

Dr. Clyde Koontz

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

University of Washington (Medical School, 1971)

English

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Diseases

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

NK

Dr. Neeti Kanodra

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

Barisal Medical College (Medical School)

Medical University of South Carolina (Fellowship Hospital, 2016)

Washington Hospital Center (Internship Hospital, 2010)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

St. Anthony Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

JC

Dr. Jeffrey Carness

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(619) 532-6400

American Board of Anesthesiology

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (Residency Hospital, 2016)

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (Internship Hospital, 2011)

University of Texas Medical Branch (Medical School, 2010)

English

Critical Care Medicine

Anesthesiology

LJ

Dr. Leslie Jette-Kelly

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Providence St. Peter Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

KM

Dr. Kantha Medepalli

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

Northeast Ohio Medical University (Medical School)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Swedish Cherry Hill Campus

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

MK

Dr. Michael Kelly

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

Baylor University (Medical School, 1989)

English

St. Francis Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

Dr. Arvind Vasudevan

Dr. Arvind Vasudevan

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

Kasturba Medical College of Mangalore (KMC) (Medical School)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

St. Francis Hospital

St. Clare Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

DR

Dr. Dilreet Rai

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Ben Taub Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

GD

Dr. Gyan Das

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(410) 328-6110

American Board of Anesthesiology

English

Cleveland Clinic

Critical Care Medicine

Anesthesiology

CM

Dr. Cristin Mount

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(301) 896-3128

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Providence St. Peter Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Internal Medicine

BM

Dr. Blake Mann

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine (Medical School)

English

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Swedish Issaquah Campus

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

JF

Dr. Justin Fuehrer

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

American Board of Emergency Medicine

English

Saint Michael Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Internal Medicine

Emergency Medicine

Dr. Praful Tewari

Dr. Praful Tewari

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

St. Anthony Hospital

St. Francis Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

WJ

Dr. William Harner Jr

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(360) 704-4743

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

MultiCare Capital Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

WI

Dr. William Cammarano III

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Anesthesiology

Georgetown University School of Dentistry (Medical School, 1989)

English

Critical Care Medicine

Anesthesiology

JR

Dr. Jose Del Rio

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(407) 228-6573

American Board of Anesthesiology

VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER / SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY (Medical School, 1994)

English

Spanish

Essentia Health-Fargo

Critical Care Medicine

Anesthesiology

JB

Dr. Jonathan Bulla

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Anesthesiology

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Harborview Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Anesthesiology

MD

Dr. Mohammad Dalabih

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(303) 388-4461

American Board of Internal Medicine

UNIVERSITY OF JORDAN / FACULTY OF MEDICINE (Medical School, 2008)

English

Saint Joseph Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

HK

Dr. Herbert Kwon

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(360) 704-4743

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Sleep Medicine

AH

Dr. Albert Hsu

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 403-1050

American Board of Surgery

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY / DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING (Medical School, 2006)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

PS

Dr. Paulesh Shah

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 403-1050

American Board of Surgery

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

VM

Dr. Vimukta Mahadev

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 403-7537

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

CS

Dr. Constantine Saites

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 403-1050

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY / MEDICAL CENTER (Medical School, 2009)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

JM

Dr. John McClellan

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 968-0236

American Board of Surgery

Uniformed Services University of The Health Sciences (Medical School, 2013)

English

Harborview Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

TB

Dr. Teresa Bell

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 759-5236

American Board of Surgery

University of Tennessee Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 1994)

University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine (Medical School, 1988)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

CL

Dr. Cabrini Lariviere

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(704) 841-1444

American Board of Surgery

Ross University School of Medicine (Medical School, 2006)

English

Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center

St. Joseph Medical Center

Novant Health Matthews Medical Center

Critical Care Surgery

AR

Dr. Aml Raafat

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Female

Languages

English, Arabic

Phone

(253) 403-7537

American Board of Surgery

Tulane University Hospital and Clinics (Fellowship Hospital, 1999)

Detroit MC (Internship Hospital, 1993)

Wayne State University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1992)

English

Arabic

Overlake Medical Center & Clinics

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

LT

Dr. Long Tran

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 403-7537

American Board of Surgery

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

ML

Dr. Michael Lallemand

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

ECLECTIC MEDICINE UNIVERSITY (Medical School, 2013)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

ER

Dr. Erik Roedel

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(253) 403-1050

American Board of Surgery

English

MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

MD

Dr. Michael Debusk

N/A

Tacoma, WA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(508) 856-5288

American Board of Surgery

Thomas Jefferson University (Medical School, 2004)

English

St. Joseph Medical Center

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

Choosing a Critical Care Specialist in Tacoma

Factors to consider when selecting a doctor

Board certifications and qualifications

  • American Board of Internal Medicine certification common among Tacoma specialists
  • Additional certifications in Pulmonary Disease and Sleep Medicine

Hospital affiliations

  • Major hospitals: St. Joseph Medical Center, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
  • Other affiliated hospitals: St. Anthony Hospital, St. Francis Hospital

Patient reviews and ratings

  • Consider doctors with high star ratings (e.g., Dr. James Kirsch with 5.0 stars)
  • Look for specialists with multiple patient reviews

Resources for finding Critical Care Specialists

Online directories and review platforms

  • Healthgrades.com provides comprehensive doctor profiles
  • Check for up-to-date information on qualifications and patient feedback

Referrals from primary care physicians

  • Consult your primary care doctor for personalized recommendations
  • Discuss your specific health needs and preferences

Hospital recommendations

  • Contact major Tacoma hospitals for lists of affiliated Critical Care Specialists
  • Inquire about specialists' areas of expertise within Critical Care

Top-rated Critical Care Specialists in Tacoma

Dr. James Kirsch

Background and Qualifications

  • Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Specializes in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Sleep Medicine, and Internal Medicine
  • Graduated from University of California, Irvine School of Medicine in 1988

Hospital Affiliations

  • Affiliated with MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital

Patient Ratings and Reviews

  • Highest star rating of 5.0 out of 5
  • 3 patient reviews

Dr. Swapna Muppuri

Education and Certifications

  • Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Graduated from Khazar University School of Medicine in 2003
  • Specializes in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Internal Medicine

Hospital Affiliations

  • Affiliated with St. Joseph Medical Center
  • Affiliated with St. Anthony Hospital
  • Affiliated with St. Francis Hospital

Patient Feedback

  • Perfect 5.0-star rating
  • 2 patient reviews

Dr. Raed Wahab

Professional Experience

  • Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Specializes in Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Disease
  • Graduated from Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences in 2002

Hospital Associations

  • Affiliated with MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center
  • Affiliated with Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital

Patient Satisfaction Ratings

  • Excellent 5.0-star rating
  • 2 patient reviews

Additional Considerations for Choosing a Critical Care Specialist in Tacoma

Importance of communication and bedside manner

Ability to explain complex medical issues

  • Look for doctors who can clearly communicate diagnoses and treatment plans
  • Consider multilingual doctors for diverse patient populations (e.g., Dr. Veronica Bustillo-Aruca speaks English, French, and Spanish)

Empathy and patient-centered care

  • Prioritize doctors with high patient satisfaction ratings
  • Consider reading patient reviews to gauge doctor-patient interactions

Accessibility and availability

Hospital affiliations and locations

  • Note that many top-rated doctors are affiliated with St. Joseph Medical Center and MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital
  • Consider proximity to these major hospitals when choosing a specialist

Specialized expertise

  • Some doctors have additional specialties like Pulmonary Disease or Sleep Medicine (e.g., Dr. Ifeoma Oriaku)
  • Consider specialists with relevant expertise for specific health concerns