The Trauma Center at Labette Health has been verified as a Level III trauma center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT). Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and the highest level of institutional performance, as outlined by the ACS COT in its current manual, Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient.
There are three levels of ACS trauma center verification, each defined by specific standards that speak to the important roles of the center in serving its community. These standards clarify the care that must be available to the injured patient at the facility, along with other expectations related to research and educational contributions to advance the field and to ensure the availability of highly qualified trauma providers in the future.
“As the only verified ACS Level III Trauma Center in SEK, we provide a valuable resource for SEK citizen,” said Misti Bond, BSN, RN, trauma program manager. “Being verified as an ACS Trauma Center requires specialized training and certification of staff to ensure immediate trauma responses, continuous process improvement, and access to quality trauma care. I am honored to be a part of the Labette Health Trauma Team, including all departments from injury to recovery.”
The ACS Trauma Verification, Review and Consultation (VRC) Program helps hospitals to evaluate and improve their trauma care. It provides an objective, external review of a trauma center’s resources and performance. A team of trauma experts completes a site review of the hospital. The team assesses relevant components of the program, including their regional role(s), the availability of physical and health human resources, policies, patient care protocols, and the hospital’s quality improvement processes. Of note, patients cared for in ACS-verified trauma centers have a lower risk of death and improved quality of life compared with patients in non-verified centers.
