When Nebraska Medicine leadership announced a change to Omaha’s trauma system in August 2014, the announcement was made with an eye on the future. The goal: to expand its trauma services, provide 24/7/365 care and become a nationally recognized, Level I trauma center.
Meeting the criteria
There are five separate levels of verification in the ACS program, each with its own set of thorough criteria that must be met to achieve ACS verification. A team of experienced reviewers also conducts an on-site review and evaluates the criteria against the hospital’s actual performance. “Meeting the rigorous criteria for Level I ACS trauma verification speaks to the commitment and quality of our trauma program,” said Karen Saxton, trauma program director.
Nebraska Medical Center currently employs more than 50 subspecialty physicians who are experts in trauma surgery, neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, orthopedics, oral maxillofacial surgery, urology, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) and ophthalmology. The hospital also has a dozen physicians certified in pediatric critical care and pediatric surgery.
Tuesday, that goal officially was met, with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) verifying Nebraska Medical Center as a Level I trauma center, recognizing the trauma center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.
Achieving the ACS verification means Nebraska Medical Center not only provides the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. Nebraska Medical Center is now the only ACS-verified Level I trauma center in the state, with the nearest other facilities being in Des Moines, Kansas City and Denver.
“This was all done with the citizens of our region in mind,” said P.J. Schenarts, M.D., trauma medical director at Nebraska Medicine and professor of surgery at UNMC. “We set out three years ago to raise the bar for trauma care in our community by expanding our resources and infrastructure to align our services with a national standard. This achievement means we have the capacity and capability to treat any patient’s injury, no matter their age, at any time of the day or night.”
“We often don’t think of it this way, but trauma is an epidemic,” said Dr. Schenarts. “It affects everyone and it’s the leading killer of Nebraskans under the age of 44 and the third leading cause of death in our older citizens. But research shows that treatment at a Level I trauma center reduces the risk of death by 25 percent.”
ACS verification means the medical center provides the full breadth of trauma services to the community via 10 dual-board certified trauma surgeons, all who live in the Omaha community.
“This is more than a plaque you hang on your wall,” said Dan DeBehnke, M.D., M.B.A., CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “This marks years of hard work on behalf of our trauma team to provide the highest level of trauma care possible. We sincerely hope you never need us, but people who live in Omaha and the surrounding communities should feel comfortable in knowing we’re here to help you and your family during life’s most traumatic moments.”
Congratulations!
Next year (when same happens), amend the title by adding a "the" as follows:
"Med center verified as the only Level 1 trauma center in state"
Otherwise, it's ambiguous.