Good in an emergency

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma has verified Kootenai Health as a Level III Trauma Center. Every year, hundreds of injured patients seek care at Kootenai Health's emergency department.

To receive verification, Kootenai had to prove it has the hospital resources needed for trauma care and can provide the entire spectrum of care to meet all of an injured patient's needs. Reviewers evaluated every phase of patient care at Kootenai, including how patients are handled before they reach the hospital and after they move on to rehabilitation.

Trauma verification is not mandatory. It is a voluntary process that helps providers evaluate and improve trauma care in the communities they serve.

"Working toward trauma verification has been a very specific goal we set for ourselves," said D'Arcy Luckett, BSN, trauma program manager at Kootenai Health. "We knew that by focusing on verification as our big goal we would ensure every aspect of quality care was in place."

Elements of Level III Trauma Centers include:

* 24-hour immediate coverage by emergency medicine physicians and the prompt availability of general surgeons and anesthesiologists

* A comprehensive quality assessment program

* Transfer agreements for patients requiring more comprehensive care at a Level I or Level II trauma center

* Backup care for rural and community hospitals

* Continuing education for nursing and allied health personnel and/or the trauma team

* Prevention efforts, including an active outreach program for referring communities

The Committee on Trauma is a standing committee of the American College of Surgeons. It works to improve all phases of the care of injured patients and to prevent injuries before they occur. The Committee on Trauma promotes leadership and cooperation of all participants in a trauma center so the best possible care will be provided to all injured patients.