UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central is now designated by the state as the first Level 1 trauma center in southern Colorado. There are only four hospitals in the entire state with that designation which shows the hospital has the ability to treat severe and complex injuries.
Now patients with with very critical injuries will no longer need to be transported to Denver for care. Those injuries could be the result of automobile crashes, industrial accidents, gunshot wounds, falls, and the like. Level 1 trauma centers are also called upon in times of emergencies like mass casualty events due to their expertise and facilities.
UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central is located at 1400 E. Boulder St. in downtown Colorado Springs.
“Earning this Level I designation has taken years of planning and advancements,” said Joel Yuhas, Memorial’s president and CEO. “Memorial has recruited some of the nation’s best trauma surgeons, upgraded our facilities, led important research, and hired excellent subspecialty surgeons to support the trauma program. This preparation, and the Level I designation, will result in more lives being saved.”
The state considers designations for facilities based on criteria including resources and patient volume, focusing on coverage provided by trauma surgeons and other specialists, plus the capabilities of the facilities available.
On April 16th, UCHealth administrators learned of the decision by the state to grant the designation.
“Achieving a Level 1 designation is the fulfillment of a promise made to the community when Memorial became part of UCHealth in 2012,” said Dr. Thomas Schroeppel, the hospital’s trauma medical director. “Because of the investments made in the hospital – both in technology and medical expertise – and the expansion of physician training programs through a strong collaboration with the University of Colorado School of Medicine, we are able to ensure southern Coloradans have access to top trauma and surgical critical care services. This is not just an honor for the hospital, but a time of celebration for Colorado Springs and beyond.”
As mentioned previously, there are only three other Level 1 trauma centers in the state, which include Denver Health Medical Center, St. Anthony Hospital (Lakewood), and Swedish Medical Center (Englewood).
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