JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (July 8, 2015) -- San Antonio Military Medical Center, or SAMMC, received its level I trauma center reverification from the verification review committee and ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, or ACS, June 26.
SAMMC remains the only level I trauma center in the Department of Defense.
Level I designation is the highest designation for trauma centers by the ACS and the state of Texas. Reverification is completed every three years and is requested by the hospital.
"Reverification ensures the trauma center's commitment and dedication to our military and civilian community in providing optimal care at San Antonio Military Medical Center," said Maj. Scott Trexler, SAMMC trauma and critical care interim chief. "In the unfortunate event of an injury, our beneficiaries and the community can be confident a team of experts are standing by 24/7 to provide the highest level of trauma care."
As a level I trauma center, SAMMC also provides valuable experience in the care of the trauma patient to the providers, nurses, medics and the numerous other services involved that directly translates to lives saved on the battlefield.
"Our level I status is enormously important to the entire military health system, as we not only provide trauma services to our south Texas neighbors, we provide invaluable training in support of graduate medical education, and specialties and critically important trauma skills sustainment for teams of providers, who deploy to support our warfighters," said Col. Evan Renz, BAMC commander.
Established by the ACS Committee on Trauma in 1987, the consultation/verification program is designed to promote the development of trauma centers in which participants provide the hospital resources necessary to address the trauma needs of all injured patients.
The consultation program is designed to help hospitals and their personnel prepare for this endeavor while the verification program confirms that all the criteria have been met.
"Achieving this designation took tremendous teamwork and effort by all those involved," Trexler said. "This would not have been possible without support of the program by the Secretary of the Army, Medical Command, BAMC Command, Department of Surgery Chief, and the outstanding leadership and care provided by our trauma staff [physicians, nurses, social workers, registrars and clinic staff], surgical specialists and ancillary services."
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