Miami Valley Hospital South Designated Level III Trauma Center

Miami Valley Hospital South has achieved provisional designation as a Level III Trauma Center from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

This achievement followed a trauma survey conducted at the hospital in mid-July. “Consumers tell us over and over that, if they have a choice, they would much rather stay in their community and receive the care they need, if at all possible. This will provide them that access,” said Candy Skidmore, RN, CHEP, Premier Health vice president for service integration – emergency, trauma, and CareFlight.

Miami Valley Hospital South joins Premier Health’s trauma network, which also includes Miami Valley Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center and Atrium Medical Center’s Level III Trauma Center.

The Miami Valley Hospital South Trauma Center will provide specialized trauma care for those living close by, immediate transfer via CareFlight when a patient requires Level I services at Miami Valley Hospital, and well-coordinated care within the Premier Health trauma system, Skidmore said.

The Miami Valley Hospital South emergency department is staffed by the same emergency medicine physicians who provide care at Miami Valley Hospital’s emergency department.

Miami Valley Hospital is Dayton’s only Level I Trauma Center.

“Minor to moderately injured patients will be able to stay in their community at Miami Valley Hospital South for treatment,” said Joann R. Ringer, president, Miami Valley Hospital South. “Research shows that an organized, systematic approach to care for patients who have been traumatically injured has improved outcomes.”

Trauma center levels are based on depth of available resources for treating trauma patients, as well as the quality of care being provided. Among characteristics of Level III trauma centers are providing rapid care for all forms of traumatic injury and offering 24-hour immediate coverage by trauma surgeons.

The trauma centers also:

• Provide prompt availability of orthopedic surgeons as well as fully staffed operating rooms
• Incorporate a comprehensive quality improvement program
• Have transfer agreements in place for patients needing more comprehensive care at a Level I trauma center such as Miami Valley Hospital
• Provide active outreach programs for referring communities
• Offer continuing education for nursing and allied health personnel and the trauma team.

Back to the November 2019 issue of Premier Pulse.