EAST STROUDSBURG - Pocono Medical Center will become one of Pennsylvania’s newest accredited trauma centers on November 1.  The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation confirmed Pocono Medical Center’s Level III accreditation. 
           
The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation states that a Level III trauma center is a community hospital that does not require a minimum volume of trauma patients and the focus of these centers is to stabilize severe trauma in preparation for transport to a higher-level trauma center as well as care for patients with moderate trauma.  These centers do not need neurosurgical resources. 

PMC’s trauma team will consist of trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, cardiac surgeons, radiologists, nurses, and other support staff available 24 hours a day to provide care for patients who are severely injured.  There is also a trauma resuscitation area; an operating room, laboratory testing, diagnostic testing, blood bank, and a pharmacy complete this continuum of trauma services.

 “This new service marks another significant advancement in medical care to better serve our community”, said Kathleen E. Kuck, Interim President and CEO.  “With accidents  being the number one cause of death for individuals between the ages of 5 and 44 and Monroe County’s rate registering at 10.6 percent higher than the state average, we knew an expansion of service was needed.”. 
 
“In trauma there are but a few minutes between life and death, and Pocono Medical Center is here when you need us the most”  Kuck added.

Research and statistical data played a critical role in PMC’s decision to advance trauma care.  It has been shown that when a trauma system is in place the death rates are drastically reduced.  To learn more about the formal application process undergone by PMC with The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, please go to www.ptsf.org/.