Mountain Vista Medical Center’s trauma center has once again been re-verified as a Level III Trauma Center after a comprehensive on-site review by the American College of Surgeon’s Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT). The achievement confirms the hospital’s overall readiness to care for trauma patients from pre-hospitalization through rehabilitation.

“Our team prides itself on providing the highest standard of care close to home,” said Denise Mallory, MSN, RN, Mountain Vista trauma program manager. “Our East Valley communities should take comfort knowing that, should the need arise, we are trained to deliver the best trauma care.”

The Level III re-verification means that the hospital has demonstrated an ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care, and stabilization of injured patients and emergency operations. Including 24-hour immediate coverage by emergency medicine physicians, prompt availability of general surgeons and anesthesiologists.

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.

The ACS Committee on Trauma’s verification program does not designate trauma centers. 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 Committee on Trauma’s program. Each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification. 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.

“This re-verification was achieved by a remarkable team of medical professionals all dedicated to providing the highest level of care possible to patients in the East Valley,” said Damon Brown, Steward Health Care Arizona Market President and Mountain Vista President. “We are extremely proud of the life-saving work our team does each and every day.”

For more information about Mountain Vista Medical Center and its emergency services, please visit mvmedicalcenter.org.