MODESTO, CALIFORNIA – July 29, 2011--The trauma center at Modesto’s Doctors Medical Center (DMC) has been re-verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This achievement recognizes the trauma center's dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.

In July 2008, DMC became the first hospital between Sacramento and Los Angeles to receive this designation. "The re-verification process takes place every two years to ensure that hospitals are maintaining the rigorous requirements set forth by the American College of Surgeons," said Cathy Castro, Trauma Program Manager "This re-verification reflects the commitment by the physicians, leadership, and employees of DMC in pursuit of healthcare excellence for our community," Castro continued.

The DMC 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. 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. "We’re ready before the trauma patient even arrives," stated Niamh Seavy, MD, Trauma Program Medical Director. Dr. Seavy continued, "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."

"We are very proud of our trauma team’s achievement and the re-verification by the American College of Surgeons," commented Peter Bastone, DMC Chief Executive Officer. "There are more than 5,700 hospitals throughout the United States and only 131 of them are verified as Level II Trauma Centers. "This is an honor, and a responsibility, that we take very seriously," Bastone continued. 1441 Florida Avenue Modesto, CA 95350 Tel 209.578.1211 www.dmc-modesto.com

Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the COT's Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process.

Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma in its current Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual. There are five separate categories of verification in the COT's program. Each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification (see attachment to this press release). Each hospital has an on-site review by a team of experienced site reviewers, who use the current Resources for the Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual as a guideline in conducting the survey.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College has over 72,000 members and it is the largest association of surgeons in the world. Longstanding achievements have placed the ACS in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.

Doctors Medical Center of Modesto, founded in 1962, is a 461-bed acute care hospital located at 1441 Florida Ave. in Modesto, Calif. DMC offers a wide range of services, including cardiology, neurology, emergency and trauma services, women and children’s services, orthopedics, medical/surgical, behavioral health, oncology and critical/intensive care.