Posted Friday, January 15, 2010 --- 1:35 p.m.

Press Release:

JANESVILLE, WI—Mercy Health System is pleased to announce that after an intensive on-site review in December 2009 by a team of nationally recognized trauma site reviewers, the Regional Emergency Trauma Center at Mercy Hospital Janesville has been verified as the only Level II Trauma Center in south-central Wisconsin—including Madison—by the verification review committee (VRC) of the American College of Surgeons.

This extraordinary achievement recognizes Mercy trauma service’s exceptional care for injured patients. Other hospitals in the area have lower State Level III and IV designations except for University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, a Level I trauma center with teaching and research activities and services such as burn care and organ transplant.

The Regional Emergency Trauma Center at Mercy Hospital Janesville and UW Hospital and Clinics, Madison, are the only Level II and I American College of Surgeons-verified trauma centers serving south-central Wisconsin.

What does this designation mean to our patients?

The Regional Emergency Trauma Center at Mercy Hospital Janesville offers patients immediate, life-saving care close to home with resources available to care for critical emergencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and continues to care for most injured patients through their entire course of hospital care and rehabilitation.

As 24/7 Level II providers, our trauma-trained surgeons and 10 new emergency department physicians are experts at providing critical care to injured patients. This team of experts works with our neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, ear, nose and throat surgeons, plastic surgeons, and highly trained critical care intensivists, cardiologists, hospitalists and rehabilitation specialists. State-of-the-art laboratory and medical imaging, trauma-trained emergency department nursing staff, skilled inpatient nursing, respiratory therapy, social services, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs support our doctors and patients.

“Congratulations and thank you to the trauma team, our regional emergency medical professionals and everyone who played a role in helping Mercy receive Level II trauma verification center status,” says Javon R. Bea, president/CEO of Mercy Health System. “This is a major accomplishment in advancing a high level of trauma care to our local and regional communities,” Bea adds.

“Seamless trauma care requires teamwork, incorporating every aspect of care provided to critically injured patients,” says Robb Whinney, DO, FACOS, board certified general surgeon, trauma surgeon and medical director of Mercy’s Regional Trauma Program, adding, “EMS providers and our medical staff can care for most patients, and their families, in our region from the initial contact at the injury site, to the emergency/trauma department, through recovery, rehabilitation and re-entry into the community.”

What is the American College of Surgeons? The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College has over 72,000 members and it is the largest association of surgeons in the world. Long-standing achievements have placed the American College of Surgeons in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.