Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville has gained Level 1 Trauma Center certification, making it one of only five state-designated Level 1 Trauma Centers in Georgia.
According to a press release from Northeast Georgia Health System, this also makes NGMC Gainesville the fourth nationally-verified Level 1 Trauma Center in Georgia.
“We are thrilled to announce this exciting news for our community and beyond,” Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System said. “Since NGMC Gainesville’s Level II trauma center designation in 2013, our amazing trauma team has cared for nearly 20,000 trauma patients that would have had to travel outside our region for care.”
The American College of Surgeons states verified Level 1 Trauma Centers must be able to provide system leadership and comprehensive trauma care for all injuries.
“We have been operating like a Level I trauma center for a while, as we prepared to apply for this highest level of designation and verification,” said Matthew Vassy, MD, trauma medical director for NGMC. “The big differences between a Level II and a Level I include a robust academic research component and having the range of surgical subspecialists to be able to care for the most complex of injuries.”
Verified Level 1 Trauma Centers also work with first responders and other agencies to develop a trauma system and regional disaster planning.
“Verified Level I trauma centers are considered the ‘gold standard’ across the nation,” said Jesse Gibson, trauma program director at NGMC Gainesville. “We hope that people never need to use our trauma services, but they can rest assured that if they are brought to NGMC Gainesville they will receive the best care available.”
