News Two Seton Hospitals Awarded Level I Trauma Status

AUSTIN, TX -- (August 27, 2009) -- The State of Texas today officially designated two Seton Family of Hospitals facilities--University Medical Center Brackenridge and Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas--as Level I trauma centers. UMC Brackenridge has received verification for adult trauma; Dell Children's Medical Center for pediatric trauma. Until now, Austin has been the largest city in the nation without a Level I trauma center.

"This is an historic event. Texas doesn't get a new Level I trauma facility very often and to get two in Austin is phenomenal," said Kathy Perkins, RN, MBA, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Regulatory Services, Texas Department of State Health Services, who presented the certificates to Seton leadership.

To move to the higher Level I designation, both UMC Brackenridge and Dell Children's have been increasing their trauma research and education activities as well as adding certain special procedures such as microvascular surgery and digit/limb reattachment. The two medical centers have been providing many of the Level I requirements for some time, such as 24/7 availability of specialist in neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery and critical care.

"While the Seton Family of Hospitals provides state-designated trauma care at all of its acute care facilities, this is nonetheless a very significant achievement," stated Charles J. Barnett, FACHE, President and CEO, Seton Family of Hospitals. "The official designation of UMC Brackenridge and Dell Children's Medical Center as Level I trauma centers means that Central Texas residents are receiving this sort of high-end medical care on par with any large city in the nation. In addition, more research has the direct impact of improving patient care, expanding treatment options and attracting top-level talent from across the nation."

There is often a general assumption that all emergency room cases are trauma cases. In fact, many ER cases such as heart attacks, strokes and illnesses are not considered trauma. At UMC Brackenridge, the three most common trauma cases are motor vehicle crashes, falls and motorcycle crashes. At Dell Children's Medical Center, it's the same top two causes along with blunt trauma to the head.

With the addition of UMC Brackenridge, Texas currently has 12 Level I trauma centers. In addition, Dell Children's is now one of just three pediatric Level I trauma centers in the state, only the 17th pediatric Level I in the nation and the only free-standing children's hospital to achieve this status without a direct connection of a medical school.

"Pediatric trauma treatment isn't simply adult trauma treatment on a smaller scale. The approach and techniques are often entirely different," said Todd Maxson, MD, Medical Director, Trauma Services, Dell Children's Medical Center. "An important aspect to our pediatric trauma center is scientific research. If we can improve our understanding of which situations are likely to result in trauma to children - such as alcohol abuse by parents and guardians and absence of booster seats or bicycle helmets - then we can create programs to address those problems." Dr. Maxson, who has developed several pediatric trauma programs, serves on the Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council.

UMC Brackenridge has been a Level II trauma center since 1996. Carlos V.R. Brown, MD, Medical Director, Trauma Services, UMC Brackenridge, said, "The academic world really drives things in the practice of medicine in terms of bringing about change and improving patient care. With our Level I designation, we've ramped up our research activities dramatically. In addition, recent investments by Seton and the Travis County Healthcare District, such as the new Seton Reconstructive Surgery Institute, are bringing a new era of medicine to Central Texas."

As a trauma network, the Seton Family of Hospitals is putting in place other new applications of trauma treatment. One of those is the Telemedicine program, which uses electronic communications technologies to move information, rather than people. Using computers, cameras, microphones and videoconferencing, Telemedicine transmits the resources and expertise of major medical centers to smaller facilities, and allows medical specialists to extend their reach into rural areas.