Categorized | Health

First Big Isle hospital functioning as Level III Trauma Center

MEDIA RELEASE

Five months ago, Kona Community Hospital (KCH) established a Trauma Program Committee to develop policies and procedures in order for Kona Community Hospital to function and be designated as a Level III Trauma Center (a facility that is able to provide resources for emergency resuscitation, stabilization, emergency surgery and intensive care of most trauma patients).

After months of collaboration and input by the trauma committee members, as well as four mock trauma activation drills – as of Jan. 1, 2010, Kona Community Hospital’s “Multi-Tier Trauma Team Activation Protocol” went into effect making the hospital the first hospital on the Big Island to function as a Level III Trauma Center.

“We are proud to be the first hospital on the Big Island to treat patients as a Level III Trauma Center,” stated Rich McDowell, MD, KCH’s Chief of Emergency Medicine. “We are also excited to be part of the development of a state-wide trauma system which is going to be of a great benefit to the care of trauma patients throughout the state”

According to a 2005 study by the American College of Surgeons, 50 percent of all deaths in Hawaii (ages 1 to 44) are trauma-related. Since the policy’s implementation, fourteen Emergency Room cases have been activated through the new Trauma Program.

The purpose of this new program is to streamline the process for trauma cases, and decrease the time needed for emergency care.

Wendi Wagner, RN, KCH’s Trauma Program Coordinator commented, “We are excited to have initiated the Trauma Team Activation protocol as of Jan. 1, 2010. Trauma Team Activations are called when patient injuries meet specific critical criteria established by the American College of Surgeons. When criteria are met, the multidisciplinary trauma team is activated and the members report immediately to the emergency department.”

This response allows for the initial evaluation and stabilization to occur in the most efficient and expedient manner. The early detection and determination that the patient’s injuries require the need to transfer to a more definitive Trauma Care Facility can take place while the patient is receiving appropriate and timely resuscitation measures.

This organized response will improve efficiency in direct patient care, as well as improve transfer times to definitive care facilities. The primary goal is to improve outcomes for trauma patients.

Mandatory requirements to be designated as a Level III Trauma Center include having a Multi-Disciplinary Trauma Committee Meeting and monthly emergency department and surgery department peer review meetings of all trauma activations. These have all been scheduled at Kona Community Hospital.

The Department of Health expects to receive a year of national registry data, as well as a year of required meetings documentation in order to complete the designation process.

Kona Community Hospital anticipates to be designated as a Levell III Trauma Center in 2011.

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