News

The emergency department at Labette Health has been re-verified as a Level III Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This achievement recognizes Labette Health's Emergency Department's continued dedication to providing high quality acute care to the Southeast Kansas region.

Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the COT's Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the prehospital phase through the rehabilitation process.

"Being certified as a trauma center reflects that our hospital continues to maintain an extensive level of preparedness and staff training to enable us to provide the most advanced treatments possible for those who have suffered from traumatic injuries," said Dr. Michael J. Farris, Emergency Department Medical Director. "This accomplishment is a result of the ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of care by our emergency department physicians and nurses, trauma surgeons, administration, and many others throughout the hospital."

Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma in its current Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual.

"Trauma care is a team effort. All members of the team are involved in education and training of the injured patient. Minutes are critical during a trauma event and each trauma team member understands their role and functions at the highest level," said Dr. Michael Bolt, Trauma Medical Director. "Even after the event , there is a 'process review of the care,' where we go over what was done right and what could be done better. This commitment to trauma care is what makes Labette Health outstanding when it comes to delivering quality patient care to the Southeast Kansas region."

The ACS Committee on Trauma's verification program does not designate trauma centers. Rather, the program provides confirmation that a trauma center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality trauma care for all injured patients. The actual establishment and the designation of trauma centers is the function of local, regional, or state health care systems agencies, such as the local emergency medical services (EMS) authority.

There are five categories of verification in the COT's program. Each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification. Each hospital has an on-site review by a team of experienced site reviewers, who use the current Resources for the Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual as a guideline in conducting the survey.