VCU news

By Carissa Etters

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, central Virginia’s only Level I trauma center, received national verification for the fourth time from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level I trauma center. VCU Medical Center has been a state-designated trauma center since 1981, making it the longest-standing trauma center in the commonwealth. It received its initial ACS verification in 2005.

The achievement, which is made by the ACS Committee on Trauma, recognizes the trauma center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients. The verification confirms VCU Medical Center’s commitment to providing the highest-quality care and resources to all injured patients, as well as exceptional competency in a wide variety of specialty areas, including teaching and research. 

This verification represents a continuum of care that can only be found in central Virginia at VCU Medical Center. ... VCU Medical Center is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of quality and patient outcomes.

"This verification represents a continuum of care that can only be found in central Virginia at VCU Medical Center,” said John Duval, vice president for clinical services and CEO, VCU Hospitals. “VCU Medical Center is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of quality and patient outcomes. The ACS designation is solid proof of how patients can rely on us to deliver the very best of care. Our medical center is rich in history, providing more than 30 years of clinical excellence and community outreach, as a Level I trauma center. We are incredibly proud of our legacy and the devoted health professionals and staff who continue our long tradition of serving the regional trauma needs of all patients.” 

VCU Medical Center is the only hospital in the state verified by the ACS as a Level I for both adult and pediatric trauma and is one of only 41 centers in the country verified in adult and pediatric trauma. The ACS assigns five verification levels. 

•       Level I - A comprehensive regional resource that is a tertiary care facility central to the trauma system. A Level I trauma center is capable of providing total care for every aspect of injury – from prevention through rehabilitation. 

•       Level II - Able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients and includes some elements of a Level I trauma center such as 24 hours in-house coverage, referral resources and meets the minimum requirement of the annual volume of severely injured patients. 

•       Level III – Demonstrates an ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care and stabilization of injured patients and emergency operations.

•       Level IV – Demonstrates an ability to provide advanced trauma life support (ATLS) prior to transfer of patients to a higher level trauma center. It provides evaluation, stabilization and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients.

•       Level V - Provides initial evaluation, stabilization and diagnostic capabilities and prepares patients for transfer to higher levels of care.

“It is a great honor to receive the highest level of verification from the ACS,” said Michel Aboutanos, M.D., chief of trauma at VCU Medical Center. “This verification represents a superior collaborative team including pre-hospital providers, physicians, nurses and rehabilitation all working toward the same goal to provide the best-possible outcomes for all patients 24/7.” 

As a verified Level I trauma center, VCU Medical Center is equipped with comprehensive resources, technology and expertise to handle the most serious types of trauma cases for adults and children. 

The recent verification of VCU Medical Center as a Level I trauma center extends through December 2017. The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons, founded in 1913, that works to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient. A list of verified centers is available online at www.facs.org.