SAFFORD — Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center celebrated its newest achievement — being designated by the state as a Level III trauma center — with a Graham County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting Tuesday.
Dr. Bart Carter, interim CEO and chief medical officer for the hospital, praised the work of Shanna Cluff, the hospital’s Trauma Program manager, and Kyle Lines, director of Emergency Services, in obtaining the designation. He said it took more than a year of gathering data to prove to the state Department of Health Services that MGRMC was up to the task, and multiple years of obtaining the necessary equipment and staff.
And he said the hospital is not done, with plans to expand the number of surgery suites and the Emergency Room.
“The RFP (request for proposals) has been out for about three weeks for the architectural studies; the campus planning and so forth,” Carter said, adding the location would be near the existing helipad and be a two-story building.
A Level III trauma center provides prompt assessment, resuscitation, emergency operations, and stabilization for patients with traumatic injuries. They also arrange for transfer to a higher-level trauma center for definitive care when needed.
A Level III designation includes these requirements:
- 24-hour access to emergency medicine physicians and general surgeons
- Availability of general surgery, anesthesia, ICU, and orthopedic surgery
- Prompt assessment, resuscitation, and stabilization of patients
- Transfer agreements for patients requiring a higher level of care
- Support for outlying hospitals and community outreach programs
- Continuous education and quality improvement programs for the trauma team
- Active participation in regional disaster management plans and exercises
Earlier this year, the Arizona State Trauma Advisory Board named Carter Arizona’s Level IV Trauma Program Medical Director of the Year, which honors “exemplary leadership, clinical excellence, and commitment to advancing trauma care.” And Cluff was named Arizona’s Level IV Trauma Program Manager of the Year.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
