Sentara Williamsburg Earns Provisional Level Iii Trauma Center Designation

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) -- For 20 years, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center has been featuring the latest healthcare technologies, serving Williamsburg and the surrounding community.

In March 2020, it was the site of the region's first drive -thru COVID-19 screening and testing center.

Now, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center has earned provisional Level 3 adult trauma center designation from the Virginia Department of Health. That designation helps ensure patients in the city have access to high-quality trauma care.

"Historically, if the patient were to land in our facility, we would immediately stabilize and ship," said Loren Smith, vice president of hospital operations for Sentara CarePlex Hospital. "Now, we are able to keep our percentage of those patients here with us at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and provide that care here locally without having to send them outside the community."

Kapua Conley, Sentara Health's eastern region president, said it is an important milestone for the hospital and the community.

“It is our responsibility to grow with the community and anticipate healthcare needs," Conley said. "Having a trauma center distinguishes the Williamsburg area as having advanced health services beyond many communities our size."

It authorizes the hospital to operate as a Level III adult trauma center for one year, during which the trauma team will continue to demonstrate compliance with state standards and further strengthen the program. Following the provisional period, the state will conduct a follow-up site review to evaluate the hospital for full Level III designation.

The achievement follows years of preparation and a thorough site review in June. The process includes extensive documentation of resources and training of clinical and support staff in the emergency department and throughout the hospital's other departments.

A trauma center in Williamsburg also fills a gap in trauma services, with the region being in a "trauma desert" between Newport News and Richmond. EMS providers in the Williamsburg, James City County and York County areas and the upper Peninsula will have a closer option for transporting trauma patients.

"I'm super grateful that we can provide increased care in the community, and we can minimize the drive and commute," Smith said. "As we all know, [Interstate] 64 corridor is getting busier and busier and more dangerous, and nobody likes to drive on it anymore. So if we can keep everything local and help grow the overall care of patients here, that's what brings me the most joy that you can come to your local hospital and get taken care of."

As far as staffing is concerned Dr. Taylor Walsh said the the nurses and physicians have been initially taught trauma. However, there has been some additional training to reeducate or refresh their memories on trauma care.

"If you're in a car crash or trauma accident, if you fall, you're in a car accident, if you get punched in the face, [if] you have a trauma injury, [it's] what it makes sense for, but the reasons and how on what you get activated or seen in the hospital is based upon what physiology you come in with, so how bad your heart rate is, what your mental status is, what your blood pressure is."

The good news for patients here at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Hospital is that if you are a trauma patient, you will remain there for your care.