WILLIAMSBURG — Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center has received provisional designation as a Level III adult trauma center from the Virginia Department of Health, a step hospital officials say will shorten the trip for seriously injured patients in the Historic Triangle.
The designation follows years of preparation and a state site review in June, according to a news release from the hospital. The hospital documented its resources and trained clinical and support staff in the emergency department and other units.
Hospital officials said the designation fills a gap in trauma services between Newport News and Richmond. Emergency medical crews in Williamsburg, James City County, York County and the upper Peninsula now have a closer option for trauma patients.
“It’s a long ambulance ride to Newport News or Richmond,” said Dr. Taylor Walsh, a general surgeon and medical director of the hospital’s trauma program, in the release. “Being close by is better for patients and our EMS partners by reducing travel times and improving timely access to care.”
Walsh said the population the hospital serves includes older adults with complex medical needs who face a higher risk of complications from injuries.
The provisional status allows the hospital to operate as a Level III trauma center for one year, according to the release. During that time, the trauma team is expected to comply with state standards. The state will then conduct a follow-up site review to decide whether to grant full Level III designation.
Level III trauma centers provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, stabilization and definitive treatment of injured patients as medically appropriate. The hospital has round-the-clock emergency medicine and surgical services, including trauma, general and orthopedic surgery.
Kapua Conley, Sentara Health’s Eastern Region president, said the designation sets the area apart from many communities its size.
“It is our responsibility to grow with the community and anticipate healthcare needs,” Conley said.
The hospital provides ongoing trauma education for staff. Most of the 40 nurses in the emergency department have completed the Trauma Nursing Core Course offered by the Emergency Nurses Association, and staff in other units have received specialized trauma training, according to the hospital.
