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Lakeland Hospitals Receive Trauma Designation
Oct 11, 2017

(ST. JOSEPH) – Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph and Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet were recently designated as trauma centers in the state of Michigan through 2020. Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph was designated as a Level III trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for its ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care, and stabilization of injured patients and emergency operations. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) awarded Lakeland Hospital, Watervliet with verification and designation as a Level IV trauma facility which provides advanced trauma life support (ATLS), evaluation, stabilization, and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients prior to transfer of patients to a higher level trauma center.   

Elements of Level IV Trauma Centers include basic emergency department facilities to implement advanced trauma life support (ATLS) protocols, 24-hour trauma nurses and physicians available upon patient arrival, and the ability to provide surgery and critical-care services if necessary. In addition, a Level III Trauma Center offers 24-hour immediate coverage by emergency medicine physicians and the prompt availability of general surgeons and anesthesiologists as well as transfer agreements for patients requiring more comprehensive care at a Level I or Level II Trauma Center.

“Lakeland Health is proud to offer two designated Trauma Centers, as well as a medical director of trauma, as we work to provide safe, high quality health care to members of our community during emergency situations,” said Loren B. Hamel, President and CEO, Lakeland Health. “The work we are doing underscores our commitment to improve the health outcomes for those injured as a result of trauma which remains the leading cause of death in people ages one to 44 in the nation.”