DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital Reverified as Level I Trauma Center

DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital has been reverified as a Level I Trauma Center. Level I is the highest verification given by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

In a unique twist, the verification was done without an on-site visit as a result of COVD-19, making DMC Detroit Receiving the first trauma center in the country to be reverified virtually.

Dr. Charles Lucas, a trauma surgeon at Detroit Receiving Hospital, wrote a letter to the Verification committee to consider virtual reverification visit. The American College of Surgeon accepted the invitation.

“It was important for us to move forward with the reverification,” said Dr. Lucas. “Our leadership team, trauma service staff, information technology department and staff worked closely with the American College of Surgeons to develop a pilot process for virtual reverification.”

The Level I Trauma verification is based on an evaluation of medical outcomes, patient care, and safety, standards of care, professional development, and performance improvement, as well as education and injury prevention.

Reverification is required every three years and is provided by two surgeons from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. The verification signifies our hospital is fully equipped to handle all types of injuries from a simple laceration to a patient with a multiple types of traumatic injury including traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal injuries, vascular injuries, cardiac and thoracic injuries

“The verification means our hospital is fully equipped to handle all urgent and emergent types of injuries. The reverification reinforces our commitment to ensuring advanced life-saving care to our family, friends and neighbors 24/7 in a state-of-the-art facility close to home,” said Anna Ledgerwood, M.D., a trauma surgeon at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital.

DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital (DRH) is recognized nationally for clinical care as well as clinical research. DRH is one of nations’ busiest and most well-equipped emergency departments, training nearly half of practicing emergency medicine physicians in Michigan. DRH is home to the oldest and largest verified burn center in the state and is one of only 63 in the country.