HCMC re-verified for Level I Trauma care

Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) has successfully achieved re-verification by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level I Adult Trauma Center and a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center.  HCMC was the first hospital in Minnesota to achieve this status, and in 2014 it will mark its 25th year as a Level I Trauma Center.

“HCMC’s dual verification ensures that we are able to provide the highest level of trauma care to patients of all ages, and allows us to keep families together,” explains  Dr. Arthur Ney, Trauma Medical Director of HCMC’s Trauma Services.  

“It takes a complex, professional team from the entire institution to ensure that every detail is addressed for each trauma patient. The site survey by the American College of Surgeons is an intense process and we appreciate the efforts from everyone at HCMC in meeting the requirements.  It’s always an honor to achieve re-verification.”

“HCMC has a long history of providing quality care to critically ill and injured children,” says Dr. Donavon Hess, Pediatric Trauma Medical Director of HCMC’s Pediatric Trauma Services. “The ACS pediatric reviewer was impressed with the high degree of injury acuity of our pediatric trauma patients, the coordinated care provided by all the specialty trauma services, and the exceptional outcomes of our patients.”

To be verified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level I Trauma Center, an institution is measured against national guidelines and standards of care that ensure that trauma centers provide an organized and systemic approach to the care of the injured patient. Essential elements include highly trained personnel, state-of-the-art facilities, and ongoing performance improvement activities.

“HCMC has a well-established culture of providing pediatric trauma care that is evident from the moment the child enters our doors until the time of discharge and follow-up care,” Dr. Hess continues. “My partners and I are happy to be providing comprehensive pediatric surgical services, including trauma, neonatal, acute care and elective surgery at HCMC.”

Hennepin County Medical Center is a comprehensive academic medical center and public teaching hospital with the largest emergency department in the state. In addition to the 462-bed acute care hospital and primary care and specialty clinics located in downtown Minneapolis, Hennepin offers primary care clinics in Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County.