July 27, 2010
Neenah Hospital One of Only Eight in Wisconsin to Meet Stringent Criteria
The Trauma Center at Theda Clark Medical Center has been verified as a Level II trauma center for the fifth time, making it the longest continuously verified Level II trauma center in Northeast Wisconsin. The Level II verification is a national program by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.
In Wisconsin, the main difference between a Level I and Level II trauma center is that Level I hospitals are teaching facilities. The state has only two adult and one pediatric Level I trauma centers. Theda Clark is only one of eight adult Level II verified hospitals in the entire state. In 1998, the Trauma Center at Theda Clark became the first hospital in the state to get verified outside of Madison or Milwaukee. Each verification lasts three years.
“We are so proud to bring this level of trauma care to the Fox Valley and surrounding communities,” shares Jill Case-Wirth, vice president of Theda Clark. “This reverification means that our friends and families, neighbors and coworkers all have the best possible chance for survival and recovery from a traumatic injury.”
In fact, according to the National Trauma Data Bank, the Trauma Center at Theda Clark treats patients with more severe injuries than the national average. Yet, Theda Clark has a similar mortality rate and better outcomes than similar national programs.
The top two types of injuries treated at the Trauma Center last year were falls (36 percent) and motor vehicle crashes (27 percent). Other injuries treated in 2009 include:
- Motorcycle, ATV, moped, and snowmobile crashes
- Assaults, stabbings, and gunshot wounds
- Sports injuries
“Many people contribute to the quality care and successful outcomes our patients experience,” explains Raymond Georgen, MD, medical director of the Trauma Center at Theda Clark Medical Center. “We have very talented physicians, nurses, and staff here at Theda Clark. But much of what we do would not be possible without all the EMS responders who work to treat and transport patients in the field or our colleagues at the rural hospitals who quickly identify and refer patients who need the Trauma Center. We’re grateful to be part of such a wonderful community of health care and emergency professionals.”
In addition to the emergency care patients receive at the Trauma Center, the program provides emergency treatment and follow-up care in a variety of specialty areas, including general surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, cardiology, urology, orthopedics, hand and upper extremity surgery, pulmonology, plastic surgery, oral surgery, and rehabilitation.
The Trauma Center at Theda Clark serves 10 counties, including Winnebago, Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca, Shawano, Menominee, Waushara, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, and parts of Sheboygan.
Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the Committee on Trauma’s verification program promotes the development of trauma centers. Participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care for all injured patients, such as rehab. Each hospital undergoes an on-site review by a team of experienced trauma surgeons as part of the verification process.
The ACS Committee on Trauma does not designate trauma centers. Rather, the program provides an ongoing confirmation that the trauma center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality trauma care for all injured patients. The actual establishment and designation of trauma centers is the function of local, regional, or state health care agencies, such as the local emergency medical services authority.
There are four separate categories of verification. Each level has specific criteria that must be met in order for that facility to qualify. A Level II trauma center is able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients. Other key elements of a Level II trauma center include:
- 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons, as well as coverage by specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, and critical care.
- The ability to accept tertiary care referrals, such as cardiac surgery, hemodialysis, and microvascular surgery.
- A commitment to trauma prevention and to the continuing education of the trauma team members.
- A dedication to advancing trauma care through a comprehensive quality improvement program.
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice. The college has more than 77,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
ThedaCare™ (www.thedacare.org) is a community-owned health system consisting of Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, New London Family Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca, ThedaCare Physicians, Ingenuity First, and other health care services. ThedaCare is the largest employer in Northeast Wisconsin with nearly 5,400 employees.
For more information, media may contact Megan Wilcox (megan.wilcox@thedacare.org), corporate and public relations specialist for ThedaCare, at (920) 830-5847, or pager (920) 554-0730.