Beaumont, Royal Oak verified as Level II Pediatric Trauma Center; reverified as Level I Adult Trauma Center

The Trauma Center at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak has proven its ability to provide the entire spectrum of high-level surgical care for injured adults and children. The American College of Surgeons recently reverified Beaumont’s Royal Oak hospital as a Level I trauma center and recognized the hospital’s dedication to optimal care for children with a new Level II Pediatric Trauma verification.

Beaumont, Royal Oak’ s trauma center first earned Level I status in 1998 and remains the only Level I trauma center in Oakland and Macomb counties, the highest designation for trauma care.

“With the establishment of Beaumont Children’s Hospital five years ago, we put programs in place to seek separate ACS verification of our pediatric trauma capabilities,” says Robert Morden, M.D., pediatric trauma medical director. “We are very pleased that the ACS’s Committee on Trauma found that we meet their stringent guidelines for the highest quality pediatric trauma care.”

To be verified as a Level II pediatric trauma center, a hospital must admit at least 100 children a year under age 15; have specialized pediatric equipment; have fellowship-trained pediatric specialists in orthopedics, neurosurgery, emergency and anesthesiology; offer pediatric rehabilitation services; have a pediatric emergency center and a pediatric intensive care unit; have a pediatric trauma team and a pediatric performance improvement program.

Beaumont, Royal Oak is the fourth ACS verified, Level II pediatric trauma center in Michigan.

Randy Janczyk, M.D., director, trauma surgery, Beaumont, Royal Oak, says “ACS verification is a tribute to the expertise, experience and dedication of our entire trauma team.  It also demonstrates the organization’s commitment to providing the resources needed to address the trauma needs of all patients.”

At Beaumont’s trauma center:

• Surgeons are on-call 24/7 and in the hospital within 15 minutes of a critically injured patient’s arrival.
• The Beaumont One air medical transportation service is available to airlift patients between hospitals and from accident scenes.
• Doctors and nurses are all specially trained in trauma care.
• State-of-the-art diagnostic and testing equipment are available.
• The trauma team is ready when the patient arrives and cares for him throughout his hospital stay.
• The spectrum of care encompasses pre-hospital care through the rehabilitation process.
• Family support is available, including social workers and pastoral care.
• A trauma registry is kept to aid trauma research.

ACS verification is based on an on-site review by a team of experienced ACS site reviewers based on guidelines for providing optimal care for injured patients. ACS reverification is required every three years.

The ACS Committee on Trauma’s Verification/Consultation Program for Hospitals was established in 1987 to promote the development of trauma centers providing the hospital resources necessary for trauma care and the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. The verification process includes a careful examination of clinical expertise and patient outcomes, and a review of the other components necessary to maintain Trauma Center status, including education and trauma prevention efforts in the community as well as research.

There are five categories of ACS trauma verification - Level I, Level II and Level III Trauma Center; Level I and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center, each with specific criteria.

Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death for Americans younger than 40 years old, and the fourth leading cause of death for all age groups, behind heart disease, cancer and stroke. About 1,600 trauma patients are admitted to Beaumont each year, including 216 children.

The 72,000-member American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient.