Vidant Medical Center Verified as Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    GREENVILLE     Vidant Medical Center (VMC) has been re-verified with the highest status as a Level I adult trauma center and for the first time, verified as a Level II pediatric trauma center by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

    Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance. "Although we have consistently done exceedingly well during the two-day verification visits in the past, the ACS verification process is extraordinarily rigorous, and we are always honored to be successfully re-verified," said Dr. Eric Toschlog, trauma medical director for VMC. "I am extremely pleased and proud to acknowledge the verification of VMC as a Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center."

    Dr. Toschlog said that for VMC, ACS verification is a reward for the enormous support for personnel and infrastructure that the Vidant administration provides, and a testament to the commitment of VMC to the injured of Eastern North Carolina. "For our citizens, verification means very simply, that they will receive the very best, state-of-the-art trauma care provided anywhere in the world."

    The ACS Committee on Trauma's verification program does not designate trauma centers. Rather, the program provides confirmation that a trauma center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality trauma care for all injured patients. The actual establishment and the designation of trauma centers is the function of local, regional, or state health care systems agencies, such as the local emergency medical services (EMS) authority.

    There are five separate categories of verification in the COT's program. Each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification. Hospitals have an on-site review by a team of experienced site reviewers.

    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. Longstanding achievements have placed the ACS in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.

• Contact: Amy Holcombe
•     amy.holcombe@vidanthealth.com