Owatonna Hospital now designated as Level IV trauma hospital
OWATONNA, Minn. 07/15/2009--Owatonna Hospital joined the Minnesota Department of Health in the fight to improve the care of seriously injured patients by meeting the requirements to become a Level IV Trauma Hospital. Owatonna Hospital received its certificate along with a letter from Minnesota Commissioner of Health Sanne Magnan, MD, Ph.D.
Trauma is the third leading cause of death in Minnesota. According to Dr. Magnan, "The goal of the trauma system is to decrease injured patients' time to care by making sure their medical needs are appropriately matched with hospital resources," he said. "With the designation of Owatonna Hospital as a Level IV trauma hospital, we're getting closer to our goal of ensuring that seriously injured Minnesotans have access to an organized system of trauma care wherever they are in the state."
Owatonna Hospital's Emergency Department is trained and equipped to treat many minor to moderate injuries, and to stabilize and triage severe injuries. Triage is a method of sorting patients by type and severity of injury to ensure prompt transfer of critical patients to the appropriate next level of care. In many cases, a patient’s condition can be stabilized or improved by care at a community hospital making transfer to more distant regional trauma centers, safer with a better chance of a positive outcome.
Anne Draeger, RN, Emergency Department manager, has been working for more than a year to achieve this designation along with a number of other emergency department staff members. "Improving our trauma care will affect many lives," Draeger said, "This designation shows our commitment to the community and region to help provide life-saving emergency measures to a severely injured person."
In 2008, the Owatonna Hospital Emergency Department provided care for 1,355 patients with minor trauma and 334 patients with major trauma. The time between sustaining an injury and receiving definitive care is the most important predictor of survival – the “golden hour.” The chance of survival diminishes with time; however, a trauma system enhances the chance of survival regardless of proximity to an urban trauma hospital.
In preparation for this designation, the hospital participated in an outside review of the hospital’s resources and capabilities to care for trauma patients. Owatonna Hospital met standards of commitment, clinical equipment resources and staff training. The hospital also participates in a continuous performance improvement process, which involves individual patient care review to assure all patients receive specialized, effective and evidence-based care they deserve.
On average, trauma claims the lives of 2,400 Minnesotans annually. States with trauma systems have seen survival rates increase by 15 to 20 percent. Wide-scale participation in the voluntary trauma system ensures that a statewide, cooperative effort is in place to care for seriously injured patients.
Minnesota began developing a comprehensive statewide trauma system in August of 2005. Through its designation, Owatonna Hospital recognizes the vital role that communities, ambulance services, hospitals and health care professionals play in the care and management of trauma patients.
Owatonna Hospital’s Emergency Department has physicians and registered nurses available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with support form medical and surgical services.
For more information, visit the Minnesota Statewide Trauma System site.
About Owatonna Hospital
Part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Owatonna Hospital is a not-for-profit hospital committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves in and around Steele County. Owatonna Hospital provides a full range of health care services including a birth center, emergency care, surgery and rehabilitation. Allina is building a replacement hospital in Owatonna, off Interstate 35. More information about Owatonna Hospital can be found on www.owatonnahospital.com.
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