VCU Health System's MCV Hospitals prepared to accept victims of terrorist attack

By Joe Kuttenkuler and Cynthia Schmidt

RICHMOND, Va. — The VCU Health System’s Medical College of Virginia Hospitals is on alert to accept anyone injured from the terrorist attack on the Pentagon Tuesday morning.

In a swift response to the news of the attack, senior officials at the hospital cancelled all elective surgeries for Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for the possibility of an overflow of patients from either the Washington or New York terrorist attacks.

As of late Tuesday, no patients had arrived at MCV Hospitals, and none were scheduled. The media will be alerted if the situation changes.

MCV Hospitals’ Trauma Center is the only Level I Trauma Center in Central Virginia, and is one of just five in the state. As a Level I center, MCV Hospitals offers 24-hour, comprehensive, specialized care for severely injured patients with on-site surgical staff and dedicated operating room space. Additionally, the center provides treatment of severe burns through its Evans-Haynes Burn Center. The Trauma Center also serves as a referral site for the state and is the coordinating facility for the area during disasters.