Contributed Article/Courtesy MGRMC
The Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Emergency Services and Trauma System announced today, May 19, that your community-owned MGRMC is now a Level III trauma center. Among the dozens of Arizona hospitals, there are 13 Level I, zero Level II, now 9 Level III, dozens of Level IV, and many others that are not certified in trauma care.
Earlier this month we were proud to share that our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bart Carter was honored as Arizona’s Level IV Trauma Program Medical Director of the Year at the State Trauma Advisory Board Meeting in Phoenix, AZ In addition, we were thrilled to announce that Shanna Cluff was recognized as Arizona’s Level IV Trauma Program Manager of the Year at the same meeting. These honors highlight the unwavering dedication, expertise, and leadership in advancing trauma care in our community.
In many ways, the Level III trauma center designation recognizes the exceedingly capable way MGRMC has operated for years. We have implemented performance improvement requirements and added our internal auditing standards to meet and exceed the level III designation. Trauma Program Coordinator Shanna Cluff said, “This really was a group effort involving all of our departments; this is an organization-wide commitment.”
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 and more:
1. 24-hour access to emergency medicine physicians and general surgeons:
2. Availability of general surgery, anesthesia, ICU, and orthopedic surgery:
3. Prompt assessment, resuscitation, and stabilization of patients:
4. Transfer agreements for patients requiring a higher level of care:
5. Support for outlying hospitals and community outreach programs:
6. Continuous education and quality improvement programs for the trauma team:
7. Active participation in regional disaster management plans and exercises:
“This marks an important milestone for MGRMC and stands as a testament to the dedication, skill, and hard work of our Trauma Team. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this accomplishment possible. With special thanks to Shanna Cluff and Kyle Lines,” said MGRMC Chief Medical Officer and Interim CEO Dr. Bart Carter.
The AZ Department of Health Services noted the board of directors’ support for achieving and maintaining level III status, the latest radiology and lab equipment in place, and the staff’s commitment to continuing education in their decisions.
This Level III status was a choice to attain, and like our community founders 52 years ago, we are committed to offering the most advanced healthcare possible in Graham County for our resident owners.
