Buffalo Hospital earns Level III Trauma designation
BUFFALO, Minn. 08/25/2010--Buffalo Hospital recently earned a Level III Trauma Center designation from the Minnesota Statewide Trauma System of the Minnesota Department of Health. This verifies that Buffalo Hospital has the expertise and resources to provide high-quality care to severely injured patients.
"Buffalo Hospital has a long tradition of providing excellent care to trauma patients," says Charles Lick, MD, Emergency Department medical director. "By pursuing the Level III designation, we are formalizing our commitment to continue to provide high-quality trauma care to our community."
Trauma is the third leading cause of death in Minnesota, claiming 2,400 lives a year. Trauma injuries include motor vehicle crash injuries and gunshot and stab wounds. The time between sustaining an injury and receiving care is the most important predictor of survival—the “golden hour.” A trauma ranking system enhances the chance of survival by helping emergency responders decide where to take patients.
Buffalo Hospital’s Emergency Department & Urgent Care treats about 22,000 patients a year and is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with board-certified emergency medicine doctors from the Emergency Physicians Professional Association (EPPA), Minnesota’s largest emergency doctors group. Requirements for Level III designation also include 24-hour-a-day coverage by trauma-trained surgeons and nurses, as well as anesthesia, laboratory, and radiology services.
"We worked very hard to earn the Level III Trauma Center designation," says Lick. "We are proud to be part of the state trauma system."
About Buffalo Hospital
Part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Buffalo Hospital is a not-for-profit regional medical center committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves in and around Wright County. Information about Buffalo Hospital's services, along with the latest health information, can be found online at buffalohospital.org.
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