Lafayette Hospital Named Trauma Center
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana University Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette has been named an “in-process” level III trauma center. Medical Director of Trauma Services Ruban Nirmalan says the designation will save crucial treatment time because the next closest trauma centers are in Indianapolis and Chicago.
February 24, 2014
News Release
Lafayette, Ind. — Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital was named an “in-process” level III trauma center on Friday, February 14, by the Indiana EMS Commission.
Upon approval, IU Health Arnett Hospital will become the second hospital in the District Four region and the fourth in the state named as “in-process” level III trauma center. According to the American College of Surgeons, a facility earns the title of “designated trauma center” when it meets the requirements of government or other authorized entities. IU Health Arnett Hospital now has two years to complete the next step in the verification process.
In 2013, Indiana University Health reported that its hospitals would be taking deliberate steps to provide organized system-wide trauma care closer to people in the mid-portion of the state between Indianapolis and the four corners. IU Health Arnett Hospital’s recent designation will play a key role in that service.
“Having a trauma center in Lafayette is of upmost importance not only to the Greater Lafayette community, but also to our neighbors in the surrounding communities that we serve. Being largely rural, the next closest trauma center is located in Indianapolis or Chicago. Without a local trauma center, we risk losing the 'golden hour' to save someone's life, when injured. I'm pleased that we now have not one, but two local hospitals working collaboratively to provide the most highly advanced trauma care in the state,” says Ruban Nirmalan, MD, medical director of trauma services for IU Health Arnett Hospital.
IU Health Arnett Trauma Program Manager, Amanda Rardon, RN, BS goes on to state that “becoming a trauma center means that our facility has the ability to stabilize and provide initial treatment to any patient with a traumatic injury and can provide ongoing care for a majority of trauma patients. Another benefit is surgeon presence at the bedside within 30 minutes for our most severely injured patients. As a trauma center, we evaluate the care of the patient from the time EMS is dispatched all the way through rehabilitation, and constantly look for ways to improve care and provide the most current, evidence-based treatment possible.”
IU Health Arnett Hospital received its designation within days of Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health, highlighting another example, in addition to their Tippecanoe Emergency Ambulance Service (TEAS) partnership, the strength of collaboration between the two major hospitals and the consistent, high quality standard of care patients in this region can expect to receive.
The Center for Disease Control reports that injuries are the leading cause of death for children and adults ages 1 – 44. All levels of trauma centers (Level I to Level IV) and hospitals are critical components of trauma systems. Trauma systems help to ensure that the millions of people injured each year get the right care, at the right place, at the right time. The right care can help people continue to live to their full potential, despite having experienced a severe injury.
Source: Indiana University Health