Stormont-Vail HealthCare has been verified as a Level II trauma center by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. This achievement recognizes the Trauma Center's dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.
Having a verified trauma program offers several advantages to patients:
- Critically injured patients meeting our trauma activation criteria are met in the Trauma Unit by a team consisting of a trauma surgeon, emergency, ICU, OR, and surgical floor nurses, lab and radiology technicians, a respiratory therapist, and an anesthesiologist upon arrival, saving valuable time during the critical period after a traumatic injury.
- Once patients are stabilized in the operating room and beginning their recovery, they continue to be cared for by a specialized trauma team. A team comprised of a trauma surgeon, trauma physician assistant, pharmacist, chaplain, physical therapist, dietitian, social worker, case manager and a registered nurse care for trauma patients each day during their hospital stay.
- This team approach has improved patient outcomes and decreased mortality and length of stay. Research shows that an organized approach to trauma care reduces mortality by 20 to 30 percent.
- Level II trauma centers also must have 24/7 neurosurgery coverage. Excluding the Kansas City Metro Area, Stormont-Vail HealthCare is the only hospital in northeast Kansas to have this level of neurosurgery coverage.
"When minutes - even seconds - count, having the right people in the right place with the right resources will save lives," said W. Christopher Bandy, MD, FACS, who serves as Stormont-Vail TraumaCare's medical director. The other staff on the Stormont-Vail trauma team include; Angela Gamber, RN, MBA, Administrative Director, Emergency and Trauma Services, Scott Harrison, RN, Trauma Program Manager, Darlene Whitlock, RN, MSN, CEN, Outreach Education Coordinator, Joe Clark, PA-C, BSN, Trauma Specialist, Shelia Talley, PA-C, Trauma Specialist, Robin Cox, Business Manager, and Amy Bucholtz, Trauma Data Analyst.
There are only five verified trauma centers in Kansas including Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center. The other verified hospitals include: KU Medical Center (Level I), Via Christi Regional Medical Center, Wichita, (Level I), Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, (Level I), Overland Park Regional Medical Center (Level II).
For more information contact:
Nancy Burkhardt
Director of Marketing
(785) 575-5493 pager
