BY JOURNAL STAFF Idaho State Journal article
POCATELLO — Portneuf Medical Center recently received the Level II Trauma Center verification it was seeking through the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma, or COT. “This achievement recognizes the trauma center's dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients,” according to information provided by Brenda Stanley, PMC’s director of marketing and public relations. Since PMC has basically been functioning as a Level II Trauma Center, hospital officials have said the verification won’t really change anything in the day-today operations. But there aren’t many other hospitals in Idaho that have the verification — just Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls and St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise — so it does set PMC apart as a quality caregiver. COT's Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals encourages trauma centers to not only provide resources necessary for trauma care, but also to meet all of the needs that injured patients have, according to the information from Stanley. “This spectrum encompasses the prehospital phase through the rehabilitation process,” according to the information. Prior to receiving the verification, Dr. Drew McRoberts, trauma director at PMC, told the Idaho State Journal that a committee would examine the way the hospital cares for trauma patients and how successful it is in that care. It would also look at PMC’s performance improvement program, which identifies and corrects any issues that may exist at the hospital. “We know that the best trauma care is given by centers that have the best systems in place,” McRoberts said at that time. “(This is not about) one individual providing care, it’s the whole team.” Hospital officials have said it’s not easy to get the Level II Trauma Center verification. “Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma in its current Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual,” according to the information from Stanley.