Trauma Services Receives Verification

St. Francis Medical Center Receives Trauma Services Verification

Trauma Center Recognized for Dedication to Providing Optimal Care for Sick and Injured Patients

LYNWOOD, Calif. – The Trauma Center at St. Francis Medical Center has been successfully verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).  This achievement recognizes the Trauma Center’s dedication to providing optimal care for sick and injured patients. 

According to Tchaka Shepherd, MD, Medical Director of Trauma Services at St. Francis, “We are very proud to receive Trauma Center Verification for it reflects the commitment of our entire trauma team and this medical center to providing every patient with the highest quality, compassionate care.” 

ACSACS’ Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers, and encompasses comprehensive care.  This means that hospitals must not only provide the resources necessary for the treatment of traumatic injury, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients.  This spectrum includes the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process.

Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the ACS’ Committee on Trauma in its current Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual.  Each hospital has an on-site review by a team of experienced reviewers, who use the manual as a guideline for conducting the survey.

St. Francis Medical Center operates one of the busiest private emergency/trauma centers in Los Angeles County, affirming its essential role in the hospital safety network.  In its last fiscal year, St. Francis Trauma Center treated 1,393 trauma patients.

Dr. Shepherd stated, “St. Francis Medical Center opened its Trauma Center in 1996 at a time when many trauma centers and emergency departments were closing their doors.  This Verification validates the life-saving work that is performed here each day and our dedication to ensuring critical health care access for our community.”

ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient.  The College has over 72,000 members, and it is the largest association of surgeons in the world.  Longstanding achievements have placed the ACS in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.

ABOUT ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER

St. Francis Medical Center (SFMC) is the only comprehensive, non-profit health care institution serving Southeast Los Angeles.  A member of the Daughters of Charity Health System, SFMC is dedicated to serving the sick poor.  The Medical Center provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, as well as many community outreach programs for the 700,000 adults and 300,000 children who count on SFMC for high quality and compassionate medical care.

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