It’s this team and effort — described by the hospital as a typical response to such a case — that has earned Atrium its third straight re-verification as a Level III Trauma Center and caused it to be named a model program by the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma.
The certification, for which the hospital first applied in 2003 and which runs in three-year cycles, recognizes exceptional care of patients with physical and life-threatening injuries such as those caused by falls, car crashes and firearms, according to the committee.
The hospital is only one of four verified trauma centers in the Tri-state region.
Dr. Daniel Butler, the trauma medical director who started the center in 2002, said that although Atrium treated some trauma patients in the past, he felt more could be done to decrease mortality rates. At Atrium, two large rooms divided from the ER are dedicated to treating these severely injured patients.
Already the program has made an impact in the city and surrounding area. Middletown EMS Capt. Todd Day said the program plus Atrium’s central location near Interstate 75 has allowed paramedics to transport severely injured patients to an appropriate hospital in a matter of minutes.
Atrium, drawing more patients north and south of Middletown, has doubled its trauma volume since the move, with 604 patients in 2009. Trauma makes up about 10 percent of ambulance transports, said Marquita Turner, director of emergency and trauma services.
To the 135 employees who work in the trauma program, what drives their success is knowing your job really does make the difference between life and death, said Sara Tompkins, a registered nurse and trauma program manager.
“No one expects to get in a motor vehicle accident on their way to work. It is very unexpected but very survivable if you get the right care and we are the ones giving that kind of care,” she said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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