Intermountain Medical Center Re-Certified as Level I Trauma Center

MURRAY – Intermountain Medical Center has been officially re-certified as a Level I Trauma Center after a rigorous onsite verification survey by the American College of Surgeons.

The Level I Trauma Center designation is the highest possible designation for a trauma center and means the hospital provides the highest level of care, has a full range of trauma specialists and equipment available 24 hours a day, and is active in trauma research.

Intermountain Medical Center is one of three Level I trauma centers in Utah.  The trauma center, which is the largest and busiest in the state, treats patients from throughout the Intermountain West. Last year, more than 3,000 patients were cared for in the Intermountain Medical Center Trauma Center.

"This is a wonderful reflection of the great care and service that our trauma program provides to critically-ill and injured patients," says David Grauer, administrator of Intermountain Medical Center.
 
“Our surveyors found no deficiencies during their visit and a long list of strengths,” said Lisa Bagley, nursing director for the Intensive Medicine Clinical Program at Intermountain Medical Center. “We are proud of our standing and the ability to be able to take care of the most severely hurt patients, at any time.”
 
Among the research projects the trauma team is involved in is a study to determine when it is safe for patients with a collapsed lung to fly in an airplane. This is important because many of the patients Intermountain Medical Center’s trauma team treats are visitors who live far outside Utah. Currently there are more than 20 active research projects underway by the clinicians and researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center trauma program.
 
The trauma service at Intermountain Medical Center is made up of 13 surgeons and 14 licensed independent practitioners including nurse practitioners and physician assistants. A Level I Trauma Center has to have the following available 24 hours a day, every day of the week:

-       Specialists in neurosurgery, orthopedics, replantation, plastic surgery and other disciplines
-       Well-trained nurses and physicians who have experience in trauma care
-       Surgery and anesthesia at a moment’s notice
-       A dedicated elevator for critical patients to be taken directly to surgery