There's a new trauma center in southcentral Pennsylvania
McCONNELLSBURG - Fulton County Medical Center will begin operating next month as the 41st trauma center in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation granted trauma center accreditation to FCMC effective Nov. 1. The 21-bed facility is one of just two critical access hospitals in the United States to receive this designation, FCMC President and CEO Mike Makosky said in a news release.
Trauma centers are hospitals with resources immediately available to provide optimal care and reduce the likelihood of death or disability to injured patients. FCMC will be a Level IV trauma center, with a focus on stabilizing patients with mild to moderate injuries who need additional care and quickly transferring them to a higher-level trauma center.
Support local journalism:Here is a special offer for new subscribers
More:Business news: Fulton County Medical Center nationally recognized
“The mission of the Fulton County Medical Center Trauma Center is to provide rapid and appropriate assessment, stabilization and treatment of the trauma patient. The Trauma Center, with the policies and patient care guidelines that have been initiated, will directly affect and improve patient outcomes," said Janelle Martin, M.D., FCMC's trauma program medical director, in a news release.
Hospitals able to offer specialized care are an hour or more away from McConnellsburg, so patient outcomes will benefit from FCMC's ability to treat, stabilize and prepare patients for transfer to a higher level of care, Makosky said.
"This drastically increases their chances for survival, or to save their limb, or whatever the medical need is. It also alerts the next medical team that the patient is on the way so they can prepare for their arrival and immediately continue their care," he said.
There are four levels of trauma centers, with Level I centers offering the highest degree of services and resources, including a full spectrum of specialists. They must have trauma research and surgical residency programs.
Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Wellspan York Hospital are Level I trauma centers. The children's hospital at Penn State Hershey is the only pediatric trauma center in southcentral Pennsylvania, according to its page on the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation website.
More:Craving a fresh sandwich, homemade mashed potatoes or yummy smoothie? Try a hospital
Level II trauma centers provide the same level of care as Level I centers but do not require research and residency programs. They also do not have to offer some specialists, including cardiac surgery, neurology, psychiatry, physiatry, hand surgery, vascular reimplantation, oral/maxillofacial (face, mouth, jaws) surgery, and otorhinolaryngological (ears, nose, throat and other structures in the head and neck) surgery. Geisinger Holy Spirit in Camp Hill and UPMC Altoona are Level II trauma centers.
Level III trauma centers focus on stabilizing severe trauma patients prior to transport to a higher-level trauma center. They are typically smaller community hospitals.
The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation is responsible for accrediting hospital trauma centers in the state. Accredited trauma centers must be continuously prepared to treat the most serious life threatening and disabling injuries.
“'Members of OUR community will not die from a preventable traumatic death' is a vision that FCMC’s trauma center takes to heart," said Samantha Smith, ER/trauma program manager at FCMC. “Having grown up in Fulton County, with family and friends both growing old and raising children here, it is a relief that a facility so close to home is able to treat and stabilize those injured, and do it well.
In addition to its 21-bed critical access hospital, FCMC, 214 Peach Orchard Road, operates a 67-bed skilled nursing care facility.
See a full list of trauma centers in Pennsylvania at www.ptsf.org.