May 16, 2018

VCU Health celebrates lives saved at its Level I trauma center

The health system recognizes National Trauma Awareness Month with a series of social media events.

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By Anne Dreyfuss
C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research

VCU Medical Center's Level I trauma center designation recognizes the hospital’s quality of care within and beyond hospital walls through teaching and research, as well as injury and violence prevention programs. (File photo)
VCU Medical Center's Level I trauma center designation recognizes the hospital’s quality of care within and beyond hospital walls through teaching and research, as well as injury and violence prevention programs. (File photo)

Trauma is the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 46, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1988, the American Trauma Society designated May as National Trauma Awareness Month. Now 30 years later, May continues to serve as an opportunity to revisit the steps people can take to prevent injuries and violence from occurring. The month is also a time to recognize the lifesaving work that occurs every day at American Trauma Society-designated trauma centers.

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“We have more than 30 years of knowledge, expertise, institutional investment and experience in what it takes to save a life,” said VCU Trauma Center Medical Director Michel Aboutanos, M.D. “Over the years we have worked hard at building the most comprehensive trauma center in the country, which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with highly trained trauma resuscitation teams and clinical experts across the continuum of care.”

VCU Medical Center is the only Level I adult, pediatric and burn trauma center in the region and the longest-standing, state-designated trauma center in Virginia. The Level I trauma center designation recognizes the hospital’s dedication to the highest quality care within and beyond hospital walls through teaching and research, as well as injury and violence prevention programs.

You may know that VCU Health is the region's only level I trauma center, but do you know what a level I trauma center actually does? Get to know our trauma center at a glance and learn more by visiting VCUHealth.org/Trauma

VCU Health is hosting a series of Facebook Live interviews that highlight VCU Trauma Center’s expertise, in-house specialties and community involvement:

  • On May 16 at 11:30 a.m., Stefan Leichtle, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at VCU School of Medicine, will discuss summer safety.
  • On May 22 at 6 p.m., VCU Health will host a live, behind-the-scenes tour of the VCU Medical Center Emergency Medicine Services Communications Center.
  • On May 30 at 1:30 p.m., Levi Procter, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at VCU School of Medicine, will discuss VCU Health’s involvement with “Stop the Bleed,” a national awareness campaign intended to cultivate grass-roots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.