With over 20 years of experience as a New York State designated Level
II trauma center, MidHudson Regional Hospital, a member of the
Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), recently passed a
rigorous peer review process to become the Hudson Valley's first and
only trauma care program verified "Level II" by the American College of
Surgeons (ACS).
"A trauma center receiving verification from the ACS is key, as New
York State now only utilizes the ACS verification program as its
standard to designate trauma centers," said Rifat Latifi, MD, FACS,
Director of the Department of Surgery at Westchester Medical Center,
Maria Fareri Children's Hospital and MidHudson Regional Hospital, all
members of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. "This
verification program applies a comprehensive review process that all
centers interested in trauma verification must undergo for official
status. No other trauma center in the Hudson Valley area has passed this
strict scrutiny for Level II status."
MidHudson Regional Hospital joins Westchester Medical Center and Maria
Fareri Children's Hospital as ACS-verified trauma centers in the Hudson
Valley, with Level I designation for adult and pediatric trauma care,
respectively.
"Thanks to our long history operating the area's leading Level II
trauma center, MidHudson Regional Hospital was in a prime position to
earn the Mid-Hudson's first ACS verification," said Paul Hochenberg,
Executive Director of MidHudson Regional Hospital. "We are strongly
committed to providing our community with the finest trauma care
available, and are gratified that the American College of Surgeon's has
conferred this designation."
Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the national
verification program for hospitals promotes the development of trauma
centers that provide not only the institutional resources necessary for
trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care – from pre-hospital to
rehabilitation – to address the needs of all injured patients. To earn
ACS verification, a trauma center must prove its strict adherence to
best practice guidelines, demonstrate efficiency of treatment, invest in
the continuing education of clinicians and staff, and have an
institutional commitment to excellence in trauma care.
"MidHudson Regional Hospital is home to the mid-Hudson Valley's most
experienced trauma team, state-of-the-art trauma bays in the George T.
Whalen Family Trauma Center, advanced radiology services and soon, the
area's first tele-trauma monitoring system, which will add a
complementary layer of care to an already outstanding service,"
Hochenberg added. "In addition to the expert clinicians working in the
hospital, and with the strength of the WMCHealth Network, care is
augmented by direct access to the resources of the Hudson Valley's only
ACS-verified regional Level I adult and pediatric trauma centers at
Westchester Medical Center and Maria Fareri Children's Hospital. This
allows for collaboration, education and a continuum of top-level trauma
care from which local residents can benefit."
MidHudson Regional Hospital has four full-time, board-certified trauma
surgeons on staff, complemented by an elite group of neurologists,
orthopedists, vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists and
additional specialists. The trauma program handled nearly 900 trauma
activations in 2016, making MidHudson Regional Hospital one of the
busiest and most-experienced Level II trauma centers in New York State.
The trauma program at MidHudson Regional Hospital proactively works to
prevent trauma via community outreach and education. For example, each
year area seniors are invited to a complimentary fall prevention
workshop featuring interactive stations focused on learning one's
potential risks for falls, how to optimize personal stability, how to
remove hazards in the home, and other vital information. Additionally,
MidHudson Regional Hospital offers Tai Chi classes to help improve
balance and reduce the risk of in-home trauma, and regularly offers
bicycle helmet fittings for children and teenagers.