Friday, June 15, 2012

State health officials have verified the Girard Medical Center trauma center as a Level IV Trauma Center.

Dr. Adam Paoni, director of emergency services, says the Girard Medical Center is the first Level IV trauma center in southeast Kansas.

Level IV trauma centers are rural hospitals that stabilize seriously injured patients and, if necessary, transfer them to a higher level trauma center. The hospital's staff has undergone special training and the centers must meet specific standards.

Robert Moser, secretary of the health department, says designating trauma centers is one part of a statewide system designed to get patients with life-threatening injuries to a hospital with the necessary resources.