Medical Center Takes Steps to Become a Level II Trauma Center

MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland recently took the first steps toward becoming a verified Adult Level II Trauma Center by initiating operation as a provisional trauma center.

“This provisional status means we can now provide residents throughout MidMichigan Health’s service area with trauma care locally to ensure that critically injured patients have access to treatment within the first hour after a serious injury occurs,” said General Surgeon Thomas Veverka, M.D., trauma medical director for MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland. “This will be especially beneficial to our patients throughout Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella and Roscommon Counties. During this first hour, referred to as the ‘golden hour,’ there is the highest likelihood that prompt medical attention will prevent death.”

As a provisional Level II facility, the Medical Center provides access to emergency room and surgical services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as immediate access to physician specialists, including general surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons and anesthesiologists.

Full trauma center verification is officially granted by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) following a period of operation as a provisional trauma center. ACS verification confirms that a hospital is performing as a trauma center and verifies that the necessary resources for delivering optimal trauma care are in place.

“My goal as the trauma medical director is to help MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland become fully ACS-verified as a trauma center and to improve patient care,” said Dr. Veverka. “Trauma centers have better mortality rates, better functional outcomes and they have the framework in place for process improvement. Verification guarantees that there is expertise available immediately for seriously injured patients.”

According to Trauma Program Manager Tom Wood, Level II Trauma Centers can treat people with multiple injuries, such as rib fractures and collapsed lungs; internal organ injuries such as those of the spleen, liver, kidneys, diaphragm and bowel; fractured bones; back and spine fractures; spinal cord trauma; head injuries; and severe wounds and lacerations.

“I am glad to be a part of building a program designed to provide better care for patients throughout the entire region,” said Dr. Veverka. “This is a beautiful hospital, with all of the right components and an excellent medical staff. It is exciting to assist in pulling all of the pieces together. It will be the best program in the region.”

MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland is an affiliate of MidMichigan Health, a non-profit health system dedicated to providing quality, comprehensive health care throughout the middle of Michigan and beyond. It covers a 14-county region with additional medical centers in Alma, Clare and Gladwin, as well as urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, physicians, medical offices and other specialty health services. MidMichigan has more than 6,500 employees, physicians and volunteers and provided $75.5 million in community benefits in fiscal year 2011.

Those interested in learning more about MidMichigan Health and its affiliates may visit www.midmichigan.org.