Photo:
Darcie Johnson, RN, BSN, Community Hospital Trauma Nurse Coordinator, reviews a chart in Community Hospital's emergency room. The hospital was recently redesignated as a trauma center through the Nebraska Statewide Trauma System. Also pictured are an EMT from Midwest Medical Transport company in North Platte and Joan Coleman, Community Hospital registered nurse.

Community Hospital was recently recertified as a Basic Level Trauma Center as part of the Nebraska Statewide Trauma System. The hospital was one of the first hospitals in the system to receive a certificate of designation in 2005, and is also one of the few hospitals so far to receive redesignation, according to Darcie Johnson, RN, BSN, Community Hospital Trauma Nurse Coordinator.

The Statewide Trauma System was designed to standardize and systemize trauma care for patients across the state from prevention to EMS, to acute care to rehab, she said.

“As a basic level trauma center, our administration, board of directors and medical staff have determined and committed to meet a certain level of care,” Johnson said. “The goal of creating the system is for all basic level trauma centers in the state to provide the same level and standards of care no matter where a patient receives treatment in the state.”

To achieve the designation in 2005, Community Hospital underwent a consultation visit and a site designation review. During the review process, the hospital developed policies and procedures, trauma protocols and trained staff.

“One of the most important aspects of becoming a trauma center is developing a process improvement plan,” Johnson said. “With every trauma case that arrives at Community Hospital, we review and critique the case to try to improve our trauma care,” she said.

In addition to the naming of Johnson as trauma nurse coordinator, designation also requires a trauma medical director, who is Walter Eskildsen, M.D., general surgeon. “Community Hospital is unique as a basic level hospital in that we have a full-time general surgeon on staff,” Johnson said. “We are one of the only basic level hospitals to have a full-time general surgeon.”

Kathy Hock, R.N., fills another important role—that of trauma registrar. With every trauma case that arrives at Community Hospital, data about that case is required to be submitted to the State of Nebraska.

Community Hospital is also required to provide certain types of equipment, lab capabilities and staff competencies, in addition to staff training in trauma care.

Physicians are required to be certified in Advanced Trauma Life Support. All of Community Hospital’s supervising nurses and other registered nurses who work in the emergency room are certified in the Trauma Nurse Core Course, Johnson said.

“This is another example of Community Hospital's commitment to excellence and we are proud of our staff and medical staff's commitment to provide quality care and this high level of trauma care to our region,” said Jan Fidler, Community Hospital Vice President Patient Care Services.