Founded in 1973 and part of Banner Health, the pre-eminent and most-preferred health care organization in the Valley of the Sun, Banner Desert Medical Center is the largest, most comprehensive hospital in the East Valley of Metropolitan Phoenix. With 482  Licensed Hospital Beds and 288 Licensed Behavioral Health, Rehabilitation and Long Term Care Beds the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Organizations (JCAHO) approved facility is home to over 1,500 physicians and more than 3,000 dedicated employees providing medical excellence  for the fast-growing East Valley of Maricopa County, such as Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills and areas of northeastern Pinal County neighboring  communities.

Banner Desert Medical Center  opened the country's first Surgical Transition ICU, featuring universal rooms and has been a model to other hospital across the country and cited as a best practice by Health Care Advisory Board with respect to our Partners In Caring program.

Providing the most advanced pediatric care in the East Valley, Banner Desert Children's Center provides a pediatric emergency center, a 34-bed general pediatric unit, a 12-bed pediatric neo-natal intensive care unit (ICU) and pediatric rehabilitation.

More East Valley moms and babies choose Banner Desert Medical Center than any other hospital. The Banner Desert Women's Center offers 26 new or newly-renovated private LDR rooms (labor/delivery/recovery) furnished with comfortable recliners, rockers, birthing beds, color televisions with a relaxation channel and private bathrooms. Comfortable lighting and soothing room colors provide a home-like feeling. An outdoor meditation garden and an indoor walking path with garden views provide additional serenity. A lounge is available for family members' relaxation and comfort.
In 2001, consumers in a National Research Corporation study voted our hospital as the "Most Preferred Hospital in the metropolitan Phoenix area for Obstetrical Services."

Also located on the Banner Desert Medical Center campus is Banner Desert Care Center a post acute care facility that provides short-term care for discharged hospital patients requiring continued therapy.