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Trauma Center earns highest national recognition

June 8, 2006, ST. LOUIS – The Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has re-verified Barnes-Jewish Hospital''s trauma center at Level I, the highest level of trauma care available.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the busiest trauma center in the state, treating more than 8,300 trauma patients each year. It is also the only program in the state of Missouri to earn this national distinction.

"Our trauma center voluntarily seeks national Level I verification every three years as part of our commitment to ensure patients have the best chance for recovery following their injuries," says Timothy G. Buchman, MD, PhD, Washington University physician and medical director of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital trauma center. "During the re-verification process, a team of independent reviewers scrutinizes individual patient records as well as the systems we have in place to ensure safest and most effective care is rendered to every trauma patient."

Key elements of a Level I trauma center include 24-hour in-house coverage by general surgeons and prompt availability of care in specialties such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine and critical care. Other capabilities include cardiac, hand, microvascular surgery and hemodialysis.

Established in 1987, the COT''s verification program for hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers which provide the entire spectrum of care to all injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process.

"A comprehensive approach to the entire process of trauma care is key to optimizing function after recovery," says Douglas J.E. Schuerer, MD, Washington University trauma surgeon at Barnes-Jewish. "Our goal is to restore patients as close to their pre-injury function as we can, and to do so as quickly as possible."

Verified trauma centers must meet advanced criteria, as outlined by COT. Although state requirements for Level I designation are high, national requirements are even higher. The Level I verification from the ACS is the highest national recognition a trauma center can receive.

"We are committed to maintaining a leadership role in advancing excellence in trauma care throughout the Midwest," says Julie Nash, RN, MSN, Barnes-Jewish Hospital''s manager of trauma services.

The Level I trauma center provides leadership in prevention, public education and continuing education of the trauma team members. The Level I trauma center is committed to continued improvement through a comprehensive quality assessment program and an organized research effort to help direct innovations in trauma care.