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DeKalb Medical Center Trauma Service Recognized - 4/11/2005
Decatur, Ga. (April 11, 2005) - Treating trauma - the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 18 and 44 - is a high priority at DeKalb Medical Center. The hospital recently was redesignated as the only adult trauma center in DeKalb County. DeKalb Medical Center was originally designated as a trauma center in 1990 and has maintained that designation for 15 years.
“DeKalb Medical Center provides a life-saving service to the residents of our community,” said William Hardcastle, M.D., medical director of DeKalb Medical Center’s trauma center. “We have an excellent trauma service led by seven experienced trauma surgeons – with more than 130 collective years of trauma experience – who care for our trauma patients.”
The trauma team includes many health care professionals including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and paramedics. The trauma victim’s journey to recovery begins with care by emergency medical technicians at the scene and continues through many hospital departments including the emergency department, surgery, intensive care, surgical units, rehabilitation departments and other areas as determined by each individual case.
There are four levels of trauma centers: Level I, Level II, Level III and Level IV. DeKalb Medical Center’s is a Level III trauma center.
“The commitment to quality patient care is the same at all levels,” said Kelly Nadeau, trauma coordinator at DeKalb Medical Center. “The differences between the levels is a reflection of the depth of resources. For example, a Level I Trauma Center is usually a regional center with medical residency programs while Level II and Level III trauma centers are usually community hospitals.”
The American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma publishes and updates the guidelines for trauma centers called Resources for the Optimal Care of the Injured Patient. In Georgia, the Department of Human Resources Office of EMS/Trauma oversees the trauma centers and assures that all the requirements are met.
According to Nadeau, Georgia currently does not have a statewide trauma system, although there is active work toward achieving the goal of access to quality trauma care for every citizen in Georgia. There currently are 14 hospitals across the state that voluntarily maintain trauma center guidelines.
In 2003, DeKalb Medical Center’s trauma center evaluated 1,135 injured patients who arrived by EMS and by private vehicle. Of the 1,135 patients evaluated, 448 of those had significant injuries.
The following data is a snapshot of those significantly injured patients.
- 64 percent were between the ages of 18 and 49.
- 82 percent of the patients had blunt injuries, resulting from car crashes, falls, pedestrians being struck by cars, etc. The remaining 18 percent had penetrating injuries from gunshot wounds and stabbings. This basic 80/20 ratio of blunt and penetrating has been the same for the entire 15 years that DeKalb Medical Center has been a trauma center.
- Most were residents of DeKalb County.
- 83 percent of the patients arrived by EMS – usually DeKalb Fire and Rescue.
- Most patients arrived between 6 a.m. and midnight over all seven days of the week.
- After an initial assessment in the trauma rooms in the emergency department, most patients (56 percent) were admitted to a medical/surgical floor. Only 19 percent required an immediate visit to the operating room.
- The admitting physician for trauma patients was usually (81 percent) the trauma surgeon. DeKalb Medical Center has seven general surgeons who take trauma call.
Serving the community since 1961, DeKalb Medical Center is a not-for-profit hospital system that includes the 525-bed DeKalb Medical Center, the 102-bed DeKalb Medical Center at Decatur and DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale, a new 100-bed hospital scheduled to open in July 2005. A leader in progressive medical technology delivered by a highly qualified and caring staff, the hospital system serves approximately 500,000 patients annually.
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