MURRAY – Intermountain Medical Center has been officially re-certified as a Level I Trauma Center after a rigorous onsite verification survey by the American College of Surgeons.
The Level I Trauma Center designation is the highest possible designation for a trauma center and means the hospital provides the highest level of care, has a full range of trauma specialists and equipment available 24 hours a day, and is active in trauma research.
Intermountain Medical Center is one of three Level I trauma centers in Utah. The trauma center, which is the largest and busiest in the state, treats patients from throughout the Intermountain West. Last year, more than 3,000 patients were cared for in the Intermountain Medical Center Trauma Center.
“This is a wonderful reflection of the great care and service that our trauma program provides to critically-ill and injured patients,” says David Grauer, administrator of Intermountain Medical Center.
“Our surveyors found no deficiencies during their visit and a long list of strengths,” said Lisa Bagley, nursing director for the Intensive Medicine Clinical Program at Intermountain Medical Center. “We are proud of our standing and the ability to be able to take care of the most severely hurt patients, at any time.”
Among the research projects the trauma team is involved in is a study to determine when it is safe for patients with a collapsed lung to fly in an airplane. This is important because many of the patients Intermountain Medical Center’s trauma team treats are visitors who live far outside Utah. Currently there are more than 20 active research projects underway by the clinicians and researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center trauma program.
The trauma service at Intermountain Medical Center is made up of 13 surgeons and 14 licensed independent practitioners including nurse practitioners and physician assistants. A Level I Trauma Center has to have the following available 24 hours a day, every day of the week:
- Specialists in neurosurgery, orthopedics, replantation, plastic surgery and other disciplines
- Well-trained nurses and physicians who have experience in trauma care
- Surgery and anesthesia at a moment’s notice
- A dedicated elevator for critical patients to be taken directly to surgery
April 30 — PROVO — Utah County’s four designated trauma centers are setting the example for the rest of the state when it comes to coordinating efforts to treat critically injured patients – and that means better care for everyone.
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center is a Level 2 Trauma Center while American Fork Hospital, Mountain View Hospital and Timpanogos Regional Hospital are all Level 4 Trauma Centers. Representatives from each hospital meet quarterly as a group to discuss trauma care in the county – something that’s not seen anywhere else in the state.
“Utah County is the only county in the state with that kind of coordination between facilities, although Salt Lake is trying to pull together a similar group,” said Craig Cook, MD, trauma director at Utah Valley Regional. “We’ve broken through many barriers by meeting together which has greatly improved our outcomes from traumatic injuries.”
Each hospital that becomes a trauma center develops consistent processes and procedures that enable the physicians and staff to give the best care to an injured patient. There are five different levels of trauma centers that provide access to different levels of resources:
- Level 4 & 5 centers can care for an injured patient in the initial phase of treatment, then admit those with straight forward injuries or transfer the more injured to a higher level center as needed.
- Level 3 centers can provide initial care and may admit and care for moderately severe injuries if appropriate specialties are available, but will transfer the more severely injured to a Level 1 or a Level 2 center.
- Level 2 and 1 centers provide definitive care to critically injured patients from the Emergency Room to the Intensive Care Unit and to Rehabilitation.
- Level 1 centers must demonstrate a commitment to trauma research and education that other centers do not.
“When you’re hurt, you need to be in the right place at the right time,” said Dr. Cook. “Having all the trauma centers in Utah County coordinating efforts on a regular basis means our community members will get to the best place to care for their injuries.”
“When you’re hurt, you need to be in the right place at the right time,” said Dr. Cook. “Having all the trauma centers in Utah County coordinating efforts on a regular basis means our community members will get to the best place to care for their injuries.”
Lehi, UT – Mountain Point Medical Center (MPMC)announced last week that it has been designated as a Level III trauma facility by the Utah Department of Health. MPMC is the first hospital in Utah County to receive this designation. This is good news for patients in the area who will now be able to access more intensive care for injuries including round-the-clock treatment from physicians, surgeons and hospital staff.
Trauma center designations indicate a hospital’s ability to care for injured patients holistically, from initial assessment through rehabilitation. To earn a Level III designation, MPMC met over 200 distinct criteria in accordance with state and criteria listed in the Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient by the American College of Surgeons.
As a Level III trauma center, MPMC will provide the community with higher multi-system trauma care that includes an emergency department physician on site, along with a general surgeon, anesthesiologists, and operating room staff on call. Level III centers also supply other local hospitals, like those with Level IV trauma designation or without trauma capabilities, with back-up care and collaborate with Level I or II trauma centers.
“We’re very proud and honored to receive a Level III trauma designation for MPMC. The designation is a testament to both the quality of care we provide the Lehi community as well as the commitment and dedication of our outstanding team. MPMC is committed to continually improving outcomes for our patients, and we look forward to serving our community as a Level III trauma center for years to come,” said Kent Loosle, President of MPMC.
“No matter the hour of the day, our nurses, physicians, surgeons and trauma staff are always ready to treat patients with the extraordinary care and attention their injuries require. This designation validates their efforts and would not be possible without their tireless work. I know our Emergency Department team will continue to provide the highest quality of care to our community when they need it most,” said Brandon Widdison, Emergency Department Director at MPMC.
