Charleston Area Medical Center has the unique distinction of being Southern West Virginia’s only Level I Trauma Center (one of only two in the state). This means CAMC has the resources to provide the highest level of care for the most complex traumatic injuries and critically ill patients, including 24-hour in-hospital access to trauma and critical care surgeons and availability of anesthesia, emergency medicine, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, radiology, plastic surgery and maxillofacial surgery providers.
CAMC cares for nearly 95,000 patients annually, including about 2,800 trauma patients from around the state and locally. Trauma cases at CAMC vary widely, from life-threatening motor vehicle accidents and severe falls to gunshot wounds and more. The team is prepared for any emergency, providing rapid response and coordinated care from when a patient arrives.
"Trauma is a team sport. It takes a coordinated effort, from the EMTs in the field to the physicians, nurses, techs and specialists in the hospital, to give our patients the best chance of survival. Every second counts in trauma care, and our team works seamlessly to make sure no moment is wasted,” said Patrick J O’Neill, MD, PhD, FACS, Trauma Division Chief.
Earning and maintaining a Level I trauma designation requires rigorous criteria set by the American College of Surgeons. Standard criteria include 24-hour in-house access to surgeons and an array of specialists, participating in quality assessment programs and operating an organized teaching and research effort to further innovations in trauma care.
“Becoming a Level I Trauma Center is a significant achievement. It’s not just about having the right resources but about meeting the highest standards of care every single day,” said Kelly Jo Evans, BSN, RN, TCRN, Trauma Services Program Director. “It requires 24/7 availability of skilled surgeons and specialists, ongoing performance improvement and a commitment to education and research that pushes trauma care forward. It’s a rigorous process, but one that ensures our patients receive the most advanced, coordinated care when they need it most.”
To provide education and research that advances trauma care, the CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine hosts the West Virginia Trauma Symposium each February. The conference is designed for trauma surgeons, nurses and other health care providers nationwide. Attendees are presented with speakers discussing issues in trauma care and leave the conference with ideas to improve patient care.
CAMC’s commitment to excellence in trauma care goes beyond treating injuries – it includes advancing medicine, educating future health care professionals and continuously improving patient outcomes to provide lifesaving care when it matters most.