SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison achieves Level II Trauma Center Verification
15 new specialists added and services expanded to enhance care for the community
MADISON, WI (June 23, 2021) – After serving as a Level III Trauma Center for more than 10 years, the trauma center at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison has been verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This achievement recognizes SSM Health’s dedication to providing exceptional care to patients, including those most critically injured.
“We’re thrilled to make this announcement because it is a validation of years of work to build an infrastructure for providing the highest-quality trauma care,” says Dr. Greg Matzke, Trauma Medical Director. “The addition of a Level II Trauma Center is an incredible benefit to our community, one that can be utilized whether you are an SSM Health patient or not.”
There are five separate categories of trauma verification that hospitals can achieve. The process to become verified as a Level II Trauma Center is lengthy. Hospitals need to start accepting high-acuity trauma patients well before verification. For St. Mary’s Hospital, that began on December 30, 2018. It started a rigorous reporting period during which St. Mary’s needed to prove it has the resources and staff to care for patients with serious life or limb-threatening injuries. That reporting period culminated with a successful two-day virtual survey by the ACS in May 2021.
One major element of the verification is staffing. Seven trauma surgeons and eight trauma advanced practice providers were added to the St. Mary’s Hospital trauma team. Services were also aligned to include:
- 24/7 in-house coverage by the trauma team, including a trauma surgeon and advanced practice provider
- 24/7 OB high-risk coverage, including a high-risk NICU
- 24/7 on-call neurosurgeons, orthopedic traumatologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, interventional radiologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other specialty surgeons and physicians
- 24/7 on-site anesthesia providers, trauma-trained surgical services team with a dedicated trauma operating room
- 24/7 expanded Emergency Department capabilities with state-of-the-art trauma bays
- 24/7 social work coverage
“Achieving Level II Trauma Center verification showcases how St. Mary’s Hospital is here for patients and families in every situation, no matter their health care needs,” says Kyle Nondorf, President of St. Mary’s Hospital. “I want to thank our extraordinary staff for all of their efforts to find new ways to provide exceptional care.”
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About SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison
SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through one of the largest integrated delivery systems in the nation.
Serving South Central Wisconsin since 1912, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison is a 440-bed hospital that offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient treatment and diagnostic services. In 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave St. Mary’s Hospital its ninth consecutive 5-star rating. The hospital in 2017 achieved Magnet® designation for the fourth consecutive time, reinforcing a commitment to nursing excellence.
