VRMC Website Trauma Introduction

Trauma is the number one killer of persons between the ages of one and 44 in the United States.  No matter where you live, what your occupation or recreational activities, or who you associate with, we are all at risk for some trauma related injury or death.  Minor or major trauma occurs around us every day.  Watch the local or national news; watch your kids play in competitive sports or on the playground; drive around town; watch construction workers negotiate dangerous and difficult circumstances and you will see that there is plenty of opportunity for getting hurt or dying. 

It was the Omnibus Rural Health Care Rescue Act passed in 1989 that directed the Bureau of Emergency Management (BEM) at the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to initiate the development of a statewide trauma system.  Trauma Service Areas (TSA) were delineated in 1992 and Regional Advisory Councils were established.  VRMC is located in TSA 22 and participates in the South Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council (TRAC), one of 22 TRACs in the state of Texas.

Texas hospitals have the opportunity to apply for one of four levels of trauma designation.  A Level IV Facility is basically a stabilization and transport facility.  A Level III Facility has surgical capabilities to include, at a minimum, Trauma Surgeons, and possibly Orthopedic and Neuro-Surgeons.  A Level II Facility has increasingly more surgical capabilities including, at a minimum, Trauma, Orthopedic, and Neuro-Surgeons, and possibly ENT, Ophthalmology, and Plastic Surgeons.  A Level I Facility has all the surgical capabilities and is associated with a medical school.  The state of Texas currently has designated 132 Level IV Facilities, 37 Level III Facilities, 9 Level II Facilities, and 12 Level I Facilities.    

Valley Regional Medical Center is committed to the care of trauma patients, minor or major.  The Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Management designated Valley Regional Medical Center as a Level III Trauma Facility.  The initial designation occurred in the year 1999 with the first re-designation occurring three years later in 2002.  VRMC is scheduled for the next re-designation in 2005. 

As a Level III Trauma Facility, VRMC is capable of caring for trauma patients with a variety of injuries.  Valley Regional Medical Center has Trauma Surgeons, Orthopedic Surgeons, and Neuro-Surgeons on-call and available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.  The nursing and ancillary personnel at VRMC are educationally and experientially prepared to care for all types of injured patients.  Trauma care is provided throughout the patient’s stay from arrival in the Emergency Department through the Operating and Recovery Rooms, the Intensive Care and Progressive Care Units, to the Surgical Unit and finally to discharge from the hospital.  VRMC has an established Trauma Services program for the purpose of monitoring trauma care and exploring performance improvement opportunities.

Links:

Trauma Regional Advisory Council:  www.tsav.org

Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Management:  www.tdh.state.tx.us/hcqs/ems/emshome.htm

American College of  Surgeons:  www.facs.org

American Trauma Society:  www.amtrauma.org

American Burn Association:  www.ameriburn.org/index.html