VCU news

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, site of Central Virginia’s only Level I trauma center, has received national verification as a Level I trauma center by the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma.

The achievement recognizes the VCU Medical Center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients and demonstrated exceptional competency in a wide variety of specialty areas, including teaching and research.

“This is the highest level of verification trauma centers can receive,” said Rao Ivatury, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery’s Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Emergency General Surgery. “The verification by the ACS reaffirms the superb care, dedication and leadership that our trauma center demonstrates.”

Only 41 centers in the nation have received verification as Level I adult and pediatric trauma centers. The verification process critically reviews the quality of care at every level, including pre-hospital, emergency department in-hospital and rehabilitation phases.

“This verification is a true reflection of our continuing commitment to providing exceptional, top-notch trauma care for injured patients,” said Sheldon Retchin, M.D., CEO of the VCU Health System. “We are proud of our team of devoted health professionals and staff who collaborate each day and continue to contribute to the success of our institution. We are especially proud of our long tradition of serving the regional trauma needs for all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, or their insurance status.”

The ACS verification and consultation program is designed to assist hospitals in the evaluation and improvement of trauma care and to provide information regarding institutional capability, performance and system development to aid those who are responsible for developing and maintaining these systems.

As a Level I trauma center, the VCU Medical Center is equipped to handle the most serious types of trauma cases for adults and children and is in a state of readiness to provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Level I centers should also demonstrate high standards for trauma care, research and education.

The VCU Medical Center is one of five Level I trauma centers in the state and was the first facility in Virginia to receive trauma designation, which the state began issuing in 1981. VCU joins Inova Fairfax Hospital in Northern Virginia to become the only two nationally verified trauma centers in Virginia. Both centers are verified as Level I for adult and pediatric trauma.

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College has more than 70,000 members, and it is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.