ECMC Trauma Center Receives National Reverification
American College of Surgeons confirms medical center’s elite status; reverifies ECMC as a Level I trauma center with zero deficiencies.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK— Following a recent survey, ECMC has been reverified with zero deficiencies as a Level 1Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This achievement recognizes ECMC’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.
Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the COT’s Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the prehospital phase through the rehabilitation process.
Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the American College of Revised Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma in its current Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual.
Dr. William Flynn, Chief of Service, ECMC Department of Surgery stated, “On behalf of the Trauma Program at ECMC and the Department of Surgery, I would like to recognize the daily contributions made by members of our Trauma Team that have resulted in reverification of ECMC as an adult Level 1 Trauma Center. Their tireless dedication ensures that the people of Western New York continue to receive the highest quality trauma care.”
ECMC Corporation President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D. said, “This reverification by the ACS is another important affirmation from a distinguished national organization. Over the last few years, ECMC has risen as a national model of high-quality care. This reverification continues ECMC’s place among elite verified Level 1 trauma hospitals across the country. We are particularly proud that the reverification survey was completed with zero deficiencies. Trauma care is a collaboration of many departments at ECMC, and this outcome underscores the high level of clinical care they each provide. Many lives have been saved because of this exceptional trauma team and many more will be saved in the future. We congratulate and thank our dedicated trauma caregivers for their commitment to our patients and our entire community.”
The ACS Committee on Trauma’s verification program does not designate trauma centers. Rather, the program provides confirmation that a trauma center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality trauma care for all injured patients. The actual establishment and the designation of trauma centers is the function of local, regional, or state health care systems agencies, such as the local emergency medical services (EMS) authority.
There are five separate categories of verification in the COT’s program. Each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification (see attachment to this press release). Each hospital has an on-site review by a team of experienced site reviewers, who use the current Resources for the Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual as a guideline in conducting the survey.
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College has over 72,000 members and it is the largest association of surgeons in the world. Longstanding achievements have placed the ACS in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.
About Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences – the difference between healthcare and true care™.