Modesto, Calif. – Doctors Medical Center (DMC) announced it has received Level II Verification from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS). This achievement recognizes the trauma center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients in our region. DMC is the only hospital from Sacramento to Los Angeles that has been honored with this verification.
What sets an ACS verified programs apart from others are the response time requirements of medical staff, resources, around-the-clock availability of specialists, as well as outreach and prevention activities. While the ACS surveyors noted a plethora of program strengths during the verification process, they made special accolades in areas related to team spirit, patient follow up, medical staff commitment, quality assurances, injury prevention programs, and physician response times.
Doctors Medical Center’s trauma program is one of the busiest in the region, seeing more than 900 patients annually for serious to critical injuries. The trauma team is prepared 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, to offer immediate medical care for injuries that are a threat to life, limb, or may result in permanent disability. “We’re ready before the trauma patient even arrives,” stated Anita Shlenker, Trauma Program Director. “The person with traumatic injuries is met by a large team of fully prepared physicians and surgeons, specially trained trauma nurses, therapists, radiologists, and other key staff so that care can be provided much more efficiently,” Anita continued. Such coordination works to provide optimal patient care and preserve the “Golden Hour” and “Platinum 10 Minutes” that are critical to long term outcomes for the trauma patient. Because these services are readily available at all times, they benefit all patients at the hospital by having resources and specialists onsite to meet the diverse and complex needs of our community.
“There are more than 5,700 hospitals throughout the United States. Just 126 of those are verified as Level Two Trauma Centers, known for top-notch care of serious injuries,” stated Dennis Litos, Chief Executive Officer. “I am proud of this accomplishment and of our team who worked very hard to achieve this verification, but the ultimate beneficiaries will be the patients who are brought here with traumatic injuries.”
The verification process, conducted by a team of surgeons experienced in the field of trauma, included visits to the Emergency Department, Surgery, Intensive Care Unit, Blood Bank/Laboratory, and Radiology. Meetings were attended by physicians, administrators, and employees and a hospital tour was conducted during which the surveyors randomly pulled aside staff, asking questions about critical care and procedures. During the chart review, surveyors spent hours reviewing recent charts on trauma patients verifying that benchmarks for optimal care were met and documented.
“We are very proud of our trauma team’s achievement of Verification by the American College of Surgeons,” commented Medical Director Niamh Seavy, MD. “This reflects an unwavering commitment by the physicians, leadership, and employees in a pursuit of healthcare excellence for our community,” Dr. Seavy continued.
Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the Committee on Trauma Verification/Consultation Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care but also for the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process. Verified trauma centers must meet essential criteria that are designed to ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance.
FAST FACTS ABOUT TRAUMA
• Trauma is a severe injury caused by physical force (such as a car crash or gunshot).
• Trauma is the most common cause of death in people between the ages of 1 and 45.
• Nearly 100,000 people die from trauma each year in the U.S. (roughly half from car crashes).
• DMC’s Emergency Room serves over 900 trauma patients and 67,000 emergency department visits per year.
• Trauma verification is a rare distinction reserved only for hospitals demonstrating the highest level of service. Of over 5,700 hospitals in America, only 383 are verified trauma centers, and only 126 are verified at Level II.
• DMC is the only hospital from Sacramento to Los Angeles to be verified at Level II by the American College of Surgeons.