Trauma Services
Raleigh General Hospital is a Level III Trauma Center
If you arrive at the Raleigh General Hospital emergency room with a life-threatening injury, you’ll get care from our trauma center team. With a national designation as a level III trauma center from the American College of Surgeons, a trauma center is a state-accredited hospital facility capable of highly specialized treatment for the most critical injuries.
Raleigh General Hospital is comprised of all healthcare professionals from first responders to the surgeon that takes the patient to the operating room. Additional professionals include anesthesiologists, registered nurses specially certified in trauma care, surgical technologists, respiratory staff, lab specialists, and social service and case management professionals.
At a moment’s notice, the team can expand to include trauma-trained orthopedists and trauma-ready pharmacists who can quickly identify possible medication interactions. Operating room staff, intensive care nurses, medical/surgical nurses and rehabilitation professionals complete the team.
If the unthinkable were to happen to you or a loved one, rest assured that Raleigh General Hospital's Trauma Team stands perpetually ready to quickly and efficiently provide the complete spectrum of care by the most experienced trauma / surgical critical care board certified surgeons and trauma team in Southern West Virginia.
What is a Level III Trauma Center?
A Level III Trauma Center has demonstrated an ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care and stabilization of injured patients and emergency operations.
Elements of Level III Trauma Centers Include:
- 24-hour immediate coverage by emergency medicine physicians and the prompt availability of general surgeons and anesthesiologists.
- Incorporates a comprehensive quality assessment program.
- Has developed transfer agreements for patients requiring more comprehensive care at a Level I or Level II Trauma Center.
- Provides back-up care for rural and community hospitals.
- Offers continued education of the nursing and allied health personnel or the trauma team.
- Involved with prevention efforts and must have an active outreach program for its referring communities.
Board Certified Trauma Surgeons
All board certified surgeons have completed a comprehensive five-year surgical residency program and passed a series of two demanding tests in order to achieve board certification. According to the American College of Surgeons, all graduating surgeons should be able to stabilize and care for most trauma patients as trauma training and expertise is a fundamental component of surgical training.
A board certified trauma surgeon has also completed an additional one to two years of intensive training in surgical critical care which includes up to three months of trauma specific training in the one year program, and up to 14 months of additional intensive trauma experience in the two year programs.