Paoli Hospital granted Level II Trauma Center Accreditation status

Level II Trauma Center Accreditation status has been granted to one additional hospital in Pennsylvania for the period from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011:

Paoli Hospital, Paoli, PA

This brings the total number of trauma centers in Pennsylvania to 33. This number includes 16 Level I trauma centers, 13 Level II trauma centers, and 4 Level III trauma centers. The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) is a non-profit corporation recognized by the Emergency Medical Services Act (Act 1985-45).  The PTSF is the organization responsible for accrediting trauma centers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It has been reviewing and surveying applicant hospitals since May of 1986.  

Trauma centers are hospitals with resources immediately available to provide efficient surgical intervention to reduce the likelihood of death or permanent disability to injured patients.  Accredited trauma centers must be continuously prepared to treat the most serious life threatening and disabling injuries.  They are not intended to replace the traditional hospital and its emergency department for minor injuries.  

In Pennsylvania there are three levels of trauma centers. Level I trauma centers require trauma research, a surgical residency program, and an annual volume of 600 major patients per year.  A level II trauma center meets the same high level of care but does not require the research and residency components, and volume requirements are 350 major trauma patients per year.  Level III trauma centers are smaller community hospitals which do not require a minimum volume of trauma patients.  Their focus is to stabilize severe trauma in preparation for transport to a higher level trauma center as well as care for patients with moderate trauma.  They do not need neurosurgical resources.   Level I and II trauma centers can also be categorized as either Adult Trauma Centers or Pediatric Trauma Centers.

Each trauma center regardless of its level is an integral component of the emergency medical services system.  The EMS system assures appropriate patient care management from the time of injury to treatment at a local hospital and/or trauma center and through the rehabilitative phase of care.