Vincennes Hospital Committed to Trauma Patients
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowGood Samaritan Hospital is one step closer to becoming a Level III trauma Center. The Vincennes hospital says it is the only Hoosier healthcare facility south of Indianapolis to carry the Level III “In the Process” designation. September 24, 2014
News Release
VINCENNES – Ind. — Good Samaritan Hospital has recently completed its 50th trauma activation. Since receiving State recognition as an “In the Process” Level III Trauma Center in June 2014, the Good Samaritan Trauma team, consisting of a General Surgeon, Emergency Physician, Trauma-trained Nurses, team members from X-Ray, CT, Laboratory, Respiratory and a Hospital Nursing Supervisor, have promptly responded to provide care for each of these 50 patients that met specified injury criteria.
“Good Samaritan Hospital is located in the middle of a previously underserved area for the critically injured patient. As we realize trauma is the leading cause of death among people under the age of 44, we felt it was our responsibility to bring the level of care that a trauma center provides to our surrounding community,” states Karen Haak, Chief
Nursing Officer of Good Samaritan Hospital.
“We are committed to doing our part to support the State of Indiana’s Trauma and Injury Prevention Division Mission in developing a state-wide trauma system to protect Hoosier Communities.”
In November 2011, the EMS Commission for the State of Indiana passed a “Triage and Transport Law”, which states when Emergency Personnel respond to an incident, if they determine that the patient meets injury criteria, that patient is to be taken to the nearest Trauma Center, within a travel time of 45 minutes.
Once the trauma center receives notification, “trauma activation” occurs. All trauma team members receive a pager notification that a seriously injured patient is on the way and respond appropriately.
Good Samaritan Hospital is the only healthcare facility south of Indianapolis to receive this Level III “In the Process” designation. The hospital now has two years to meet the criteria set forth by the American College of Surgeons for designation as a Level III National Trauma Center.
One of the conditions states that Good Samaritan Hospital must have a Surgeon presence at 80% or more of all trauma activations. “The fact of the matter is that if it was my family member, I would want a team of qualified medical professionals working together to give them the best care possible,” says Dr. David Purdom, Good Samaritan Hospital’s General Surgeon and Trauma Medical Director.
“It’s just the right thing to do.” Mary Pargin, RN, BSN, CEN, Trauma Program Manger states, “Becoming a trauma center means that we can keep patients that we have the resources to care for closer to home.
Trauma care begins with EMS and can filter through the entire hospital, including ER, Surgery, Inpatient Nursing Units, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services.”
The Trauma Team of Good Samaritan Hospital, while working through the requirements for national certification, will also be providing Injury Prevention programs to the surrounding communities within the 45-minute travel time.
More information regarding the “In the Process” Status, EMS Commission Triage and Transport Rule and other related State Trauma Information can be found at: http://www.in.gov/isdh/19537.htm
Source: Good Samaritan Hospital