Trauma center in Pennsylvania granted Level IV Trauma Center Accreditation status

Level IV Trauma Center Accreditation status has been granted to an additional hospital in Pennsylvania for the period from November 1, 2014 through October 31, 2015.

Grove City Medical Center – Grove City, PA

This brings the total number of trauma centers in Pennsylvania to 33 and enhances care of injured patients in Pennsylvania's rural regions. 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.

Trauma centers are hospitals with resources immediately available to provide efficient surgical and medical intervention to reduce the likelihood of death or 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 four levels of trauma centers. Level I trauma centers provide the highest degree of resources with a full cadre of specialties and must have trauma research and surgical residency programs. Level II trauma centers meet the same high level of care but do not require research and residency programs, cardiac surgery, hand surgery, vascular re-implantation, oral/maxillofacial surgery, otorhinolaryngological surgery, neurology, physiatry and psychiatry. Level III trauma centers are smaller community hospitals that do not require neurosurgeons and focus on stabilizing severe trauma patients prior to transport to a higher level trauma center. They may admit patients with mild and moderate injuries. Level IV trauma centers provide enhanced care to injured patients within the emergency department in rural areas of the state and focus on stabilization and quick transfer to a higher level trauma center. They may admit mildly injured patients.

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