Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area has expanded its spectrum of care by earning designation as a Level II Major Trauma Center by the Texas Department of State Health Services. A Level II trauma designation represents the second-highest level of trauma designation available and reflects Corpus Christi Medical Center’s dedication to providing optimal care for severely injured patients. This distinction upgrade allows for more immediate access to a higher level of trauma care for residents of Corpus Christi, North Padre Island and the Coastal Bend region.
“Our hospital is leading the future of healthcare in Corpus Christi and I am proud of our multidisciplinary team for elevating our trauma program to save more lives and improve outcomes for critically injured patients across our region, said Eric Evans, chief executive officer of Corpus Christi Medical Center.”
Corpus Christi Medical Center has been preparing for this designation for nearly three years and is the now the 26th Level II Trauma Center in the State of Texas. To earn Level II Trauma Center designation, Corpus Christi Medical Center participated in a rigorous review process by teams of physicians, nurses and other healthcare experts from the American College of Surgeons. They carefully review programs and records, and interview practitioners and hospital colleagues during site visits.
“Delivering the highest quality care—especially in situations where seconds count, is critical to our mission to the care and improvement of human life,” said Juan Ramirez, MD, medical director of emergency services at Corpus Christi Medical Center.
The voluntary process requires a commitment to providing comprehensive regional care for every aspect of injury from prevention through rehabilitation. Corpus Christi Medical Center’s 24-hour trauma team consists of specially trained healthcare providers who have expertise in the care of severely injured patients. Among the many requirements are intensive trauma education for colleagues, availability of subspecialty services like orthopedics, neurosurgery and cardiovascular care as well as trauma-certified emergency center physicians and rapid access to surgical care. The facility also offers a full range of inpatient rehabilitation services to provide post-injury care for trauma patients.
“Corpus Christi Medical Center is committed to a system of care that strives to reduce injury-related morbidity and mortality, which means getting the right patient to the right place, at the right time, to receive the right care,” said Thomas Goaley, MD, medical director of trauma services at Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area.
“Trauma is the leading cause of death from age 1 - 44 years old,” said Dr. Goaley. “Critical trauma victims must reach the appropriate healthcare setting within a short period of time, often called the ‘golden hour,’ to help prevent death or disability.”
According to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, a fully implemented trauma system has many positive consequences, including decreases in the number of trauma incidents, injury severity, the number of preventable deaths and severity of trauma-related disability.
As a Level II Trauma Center, definitive care for all injured patients is provided and includes:
- Dedicated trauma resuscitation rooms in the emergency department
- Dedicated trauma operating rooms available 24/7
- Continuous availability of neurosurgery, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neonatal care (Level III), obstetrics (Level IV Maternal Facility), interventional radiology, laboratory services, radiology and blood bank
- An inpatient rehabilitation unit
In addition to Bay Area’s Trauma Center designation, Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctors Regional and ER 24/7 Northwest are Level IV Trauma Centers. Together, the Corpus Christi Medical Center healthcare network of hospitals, and free standing emergency rooms in Portland and Rockport are unified in elevating the standard of care for all patients. Learn more about the hospital’s emergency services and trauma program.