American College of Surgeons re-verifies Children's Hospital of Wisconsin as a Level I Trauma Center

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin now is re-verified as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons. This achievement recognizes the hospital's expertise in providing the highest level of care to injured patients, from newborns through adolescents. The hospital first became designated as a Level I Trauma Center in May 2001. Children's Hospital is one of only three Level I Trauma Centers in the state.

"Children's Hospital's Emergency Department/Trauma Center is one of the busiest in the nation, handling more than 60,000 visits annually," said Andrea Winthrop, MD, pediatric surgeon and medical director of the Trauma Program." This verification ensures that we continue to provide the highest level of care to children in our community." Winthrop also is associate professor of Pediatric Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Key elements of Level I Trauma Center status:

• Trauma surgeons, medical specialists and subspecialists must be in the hospital and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Specialized facilities, including emergency services and an operating room dedicated to and ready for trauma cases. Neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, specially trained trauma nurses, anesthesia services, intensive care units, rehabilitation services, CT and other imaging facilities available for trauma patients at any time of the day or night.
• A trauma director, trauma registry, a coordinator, outreach programs and an organized research effort to help direct new innovations in trauma care.