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Verified Level II Trauma Center
The American College of Surgeons Committee
on Trauma, in December 1999, verified the St. Vincent Regional Emergency
Center as a Level II trauma center. Level II is the highest ranking
a non-university affiliated emergency center can attain. ACS verification
confirms St. Vincent Hospital provides the highest level of trauma
care possible for all injured patients, including pediatric patients.
St. Vincent's is one of only five trauma centers in Wisconsin to
be verified by the ACS.
A Level II trauma center must meet strict guidelines set by the
ACS, including an ability to initiate trauma care for injured patients.
Key elements of a Level II trauma center include 24-hour, immediate
coverage by trauma and neurosurgeons, as well as coverage by specialists
in orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology
and critical care. As the site of a Level II trauma center, St.
Vincent Hospital also is able to provide tertiary care for most
critical conditions, although some tertiary care needs such as severe
burns may be referred to a Level I trauma center.
A Level II trauma center also must be dedicated to continually improving
trauma care through a comprehensive quality improvement program
and must be committed to trauma prevention and trauma team members'
continuing education. The array of educational offerings the St.
Vincent Regional Emergency Center offers to both the public and
to its staff is vast.
St. Vincent's Level II verification is for a three-year period,
the longest term available. In addition to trauma services, the
emergency center provides care for patients with emergent, urgent,
non-urgent needs and observational care. They include:
FirstCare
Quality
care for patients of all ages with non-urgent injury or illness
around-the-clock
Fastrack
Priority
triage and treatment of work-related injuries Post-injury drug testing
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
Nurses who have experience providing care
and assistance to people of all ages and both sexes following a
sexual assault Specially trained nurses collect medical evidence
and perform the necessary examination in a caring, sensitive manner.
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