Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation Accreditation Status for Trauma Centers

MECHANICSBURG, Pa., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Trauma Center accreditation status has been granted to twenty-seven Pennsylvania hospitals for the period from October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008:

   Regional Resource Trauma Center (Level I)    Bethlehem — St. Luke’s Hospital   Johnstown — Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center   Philadelphia — Albert Einstein Medical Center   Philadelphia — Hahnemann University Hospital   Philadelphia — Thomas Jefferson University Hospital   Philadelphia — The University of Pennsylvania Health System, University                   of Pennsylvania Medical Center   Pittsburgh — Allegheny General Hospital   Pittsburgh — The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh   Pittsburgh — The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian   

Regional Resource Trauma Center with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma (Level I AQ)

   Allentown — Lehigh Valley Hospital   Danville — Geisinger Medical Center   Hershey — The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center   Philadelphia — Temple University Hospital    Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Center (Pediatric Level I)    Philadelphia — St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children   Philadelphia — The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia   Pittsburgh — The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh    Regional Trauma Center (Level II)   Abington — Abington Memorial Hospital   Altoona — Altoona Hospital   Erie — Hamot Medical Center   Lancaster — Lancaster General Hospital   Langhorne — St. Mary Medical Center   Philadelphia — Frankford Hospital, Torresdale Campus   Reading — The Reading Hospital and Medical Center   Sayre — Robert Packer Hospital   Scranton — Community Medical Center   Upland — Crozer-Chester Medical Center   York — York Hospital   

Trauma centers are hospitals with resources immediately available to provide efficient surgical intervention to reduce the likelihood of death or permanent disability. Accredited trauma centers must be continuously prepared to treat the most serious life threatening and disabling injuries. They are not intended to replace the traditional hospital and its emergency department for minor injuries.

All accredited trauma centers must meet a stringent set of requirements. In addition, Regional Resource Trauma Centers are required to maintain capabilities for clinical research and external prehospital educational programs in trauma. Trauma centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma must make an additional commitment to provide expertise in the care of the pediatric trauma patient.

The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) is a non-profit corporation recognized by the Emergency Medical Services Act (Act 1985-45) as amended. The PTSF is the organization responsible for accrediting trauma centers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It has been reviewing and surveying applicant hospitals since May of 1986. Trauma experts from across the United States participate in the voluntary cyclical review process.

Each trauma center is an integral component of the emergency medical services system. The EMS system includes appropriate patient care management from the time of injury to treatment at a local hospital and/or trauma center and through the rehabilitative phase.

Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation

CONTACT: Juliet Geiger of the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation,+1- 717-697-5512

Web site: http://www.patraumasystemsfdn.com/