Nationwide Children’s Hospital has received a three-year re-verification as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center by the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This achievement in re-verification recognizes the Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured pediatric patients.
The first Ohio children’s hospital to be verified as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in 1991, Nationwide Children’s admits more than 1,400 seriously-injured pediatric patients annually, making it one of the busiest pediatric trauma centers in the country.
“Nationwide Children’s recognizes the impact of pediatric trauma as the leading cause of death for children over the age of 1,” said Kathy Haley, R.N., Trauma Program manager. “Our pediatric trauma care is provided by a team that includes trauma, orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, and is supported by trauma research, quality improvement processes, prevention efforts, and an expansive trauma education program. Care encompasses the Emergency Department, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, services throughout the hospital including rehabilitation and concluding with school re-entry.”
Established by ACS in 1987, the COT’s Verification/Consultation 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 phase. Essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outline by the ACS COT’s manual, must be met by verified trauma centers. Level I verification confirms that a trauma center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality trauma care for all injured patients.
“Re-verification by the ACS as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center recognizes our continuing commitment to the highest level of care for injured children in our region and surrounding areas,” said Jonathan Groner, MD, Medical Director of the Trauma Program at Nationwide Children’s. “Our voluntary commitment to become a trauma center more than two decades ago is consistent with our mission to provide the best outcomes for all children.”
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. Leadership is provided in prevention, public education and continuing education of the trauma team members. These centers are committed to continued improvement through a comprehensive quality assessment program and an organized research effort to help direct new innovations in trauma care.
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