GRHS’ Level III Trauma Hospital designation renewed by state

Glencoe Regional Health Services’ (GRHS) designation as a Level III Trauma Hospital was renewed by the Minnesota Department of Health on June 16. GRHS voluntarily participated in the intense designation process, which included an outside review of its resources and capabilities to care for trauma patients. GRHS met all standards for commitment, clinical and equipment resources, and staff training. The designation is valid for three years.
“The goal of Minnesota’s statewide trauma system is to decrease injured patients’ time to care by making sure their medical needs are appropriately matched with hospital resources,” says Chad Robbins, doctor of osteopathic medicine, trauma medical director and general surgeon at GRHS. “Our goal is for seriously injured people to have access to organized trauma care wherever they are in Minnesota.”
Robbins serves on Minnesota’s State Trauma Advisory Council, which was established by the Minnesota Legislature to advise the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health on the development, maintenance and improvement of Minnesota’s statewide trauma system.
Level III designation requires GRHS to meet standards including 24/7 coverage by board-certified surgeons and emergency physicians, dedicated trauma program leadership and management, advanced trauma training for staff, participation in the statewide trauma registry and continuous quality improvement processes for trauma care.
“I think I speak for everyone at GRHS when I say we are very proud of our Level III trauma status because it reflects our ability and commitment to provide immediate, life-saving care,” says Mitch Palmer, medical doctor, emergency department chief at GRHS. “While the ER (emergency room) is the center of trauma care, our capabilities span the organization to include Glencoe’s advanced life support ambulance service and the GRHS laboratory and radiology departments, surgeons, anesthetists and many other professionals.”

For more, see the July 22 print edition of The Chronicle.