Fredericksburg hospital now a trauma center

Critically injured patients needing high-level emergency care can now receive such services at Mary Washington Hospital, which was recently designated a Level II trauma center by the Virginia health commissioner.

The designation means the Fredericksburg hospital has staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round, to treat patients with severe traumatic injuries or illness from car wrecks, gunshots, burns and other situations.

"It helps the community a great deal," said Elizabeth Singer, spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Medical Services at the state Health Department.

"A legislative commission report in 2004 identified the Fredericksburg area as in need of a trauma center," said Singer. The area includes a very busy stretch of Interstate 95 between Richmond and Washington.

The Level II trauma center designation is between Level I, the highest trauma center-designation awarded to hospitals with the most advanced services and care, and Level III.

"The trauma center brings a tremendous resource to this area of Virginia," said Dr. Lawrence Roberts, medical director of the trauma center at Mary Washington.

"Trauma victims no longer need to be transported long distance, displacing patient and family. Care is now available nearby. Proximity can improve outcome."

At Mary Washington, four specialty-trained trauma and surgical critical-care surgeons will staff the center.

Research has shown that critically injured patients taken directly to trauma centers, even if located farther away than the closest emergency room, are more likely to survive than patients taken to an emergency room then transferred to a trauma center.

According to state health department reports, falls and vehicle crashes are the most common reasons for trauma injuries, and fractures to a limb and internal injuries are the most common diagnoses. Trauma victims with gunshot injuries have the longest hospital stays.

With the Mary Washington designation, Virginia now has 14 trauma centers -- five Level I centers, four level II and five Level III.

Mary Washington Hospital
1001 Sam Perry Blvd.,
Fredericksburg
(540)741-1100
412 Beds

Other trauma centers in Virginia
Level I
• Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke
• Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church
• Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk
• U. Va. Medical Center, Charlottesville
• VCU Medical Center, Richmond
Level II
• Lynchburg General Hospital, Lynchburg
• Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg
• Riverside Regional Medical Center, Newport News
• Winchester Medical Center, Winchester
Level III
• Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, Christiansburg
• CJW Medical Center, (Chippenham) Richmond
• Montgomery Regional Hospital, Blacksburg
• Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, Virginia Beach
• Southside Regional Medical Center, Petersburg

Some criteria for Level II designation
• Medical director is a surgeon
• Clearly defined trauma-response protocol
• Anesthesiologist present for all emergency operations
• Full-time trauma nurse coordinator/trauma program manager who is a registered nurse and has experience in emergency/critical care nursing
• Dedicated budget
• A trauma surgeon must meet patient upon arrival in emergency department
• Other medical specialists must be available within a certain time of being called
• Ongoing staff training