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'Great News.' Cape Cod Hospital Will Soon Be A Level 3 Trauma Center
After a multi-year review, Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis has received verification as a Level III trauma center. The official designation, expected in January, means the hospital met the requirements set forth by the American College of Surgeons, according to the hospital's Dec. 27 press release.
The designation will help all of Cape Cod, but especially the mid-Cape and Outer Cape towns, Sandwich Fire Chief John Burke said on a call Dec. 27. "It's great news," Burke said.
There are three levels of trauma center verification, according to the American College of Surgeons. Each level is defined by specific standards about the available level of care for patients. Level I centers must be able to provide comprehensive care for all trauma injuries.
A Level III Trauma Center must be equipped to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, critical care, surgery and stabilization for moderately injured patients, according to the American Trauma Society.
Cape Cod Hospital
As such, Cape Cod Hospital must provide 24-hour immediate coverage by emergency medicine physicians. Surgeons, anesthesiologists and operating room staff must be available within 30 minutes of notification.
The designation is important for the outermost Cape Cod towns, "especially with the accidents in the summer on Route 6," Burke said. If a medical evacuation helicopter is not flying to those towns on a given day, then patients can be taken to a Level III trauma center for stabilization, Burke said.
Burke said departments on the Upper Cape, closest to the Cape Cod Canal bridges, have access to St. Luke's in New Bedford and South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. Both are Level II trauma centers.
Cape Cod Hospital is one of two hospitals on the Cape. Both are operated by the nonprofit Cape Cod Healthcare. In 2023, in total, the nonprofit's two emergency rooms treated 110,606 patients and the six urgent care centers saw 124,707 patients, according to the annual report.
Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape's residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.Com .
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Level 3 Trauma Center now closer for Cape fire and emergency workers
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