Vail Health’s trauma center maintains its ‘Level III’ designation
State again designates local emergency department
Vail Health Hospital’s Emergency Department has again been designated a Level III Trauma Center by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The designation is earned by hospitals every three years, and Vail Health Hospital has achieved Level III status since 1998.
“To receive this prestigious designation once again speaks volumes to the dedication of the Emergency Department staff and the high level of trauma services they provide to our community and those visiting from around the world,” Vail Health President and CEO Will Cook said. “With the new Emergency Department in the East Wing that opened a year ago, we are beyond pleased to have provided our staff with updated facilities and advanced technology to meet the high quality of patient care they consistently provide.”
Vail Health’s Emergency Department is a 24-hour trauma center staffed by board-certified physicians. Emergency trauma care is available to infants, pediatrics, adolescents and adults of all ages. Highly-trained staff is qualified to care for medical emergencies and stabilization of critical patients with full resuscitation capabilities. Walk-in patients are treated promptly and efficiently.
“Trauma is a continuum that starts in the field and goes through discharge home,” Vail Health Trauma Program Manager Elizabeth Kruger said. “I’m proud of the collaboration between the trauma team from Eagle County Paramedic Services, our Emergency Department, surgical services, inpatient nursing departments, anesthesia, lab, respiratory, orthopedics and, of course, our extraordinary injury prevention program. Without these relationships the trauma care delivered to this community would not be possible.”
Trauma centers across the United States are identified by a five-level designation process and a verification process. The different levels refer to the resources available and the number of patients admitted yearly.
Support Local Journalism
A Level III Trauma Center has demonstrated an ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care, and stabilization of injured patients and emergency operations.
“This designation is significant because it shows we provide excellent outcomes for trauma patients cared for at Vail Health,” Kruger said. “Without a trauma center designation, injured patients would have to be immediately transferred outside our county for further care. This designation allows them to seek emergency care within our community.”
For more information, go to Vailhealth.org.
