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The Level One Trauma Center at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) has been verified as a Level I trauma center by the Verification Review Committee, an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. The achievement recognizes the trauma center's dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.
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Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the Committee on Trauma's Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. The spectrum encompasses the prehospital phase through the rehabilitation process.
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"Since becoming a state designated Level I trauma center in 1983, we have remained committed to providing care to critically injured patients," said Joseph Ibrahim, MD, trauma medical director, Orlando Health ORMC. "When a traumatic injury happens, seconds can mean the difference between life and death. As a Level I trauma center our team of trauma surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, general surgeons, physician specialists, nurses, imaging technologists, other medical professionals, chaplains and additional team members, are always ready and waiting to deliver the highest level care and expertise when our patients need it most. The recognition of verification reflects our longstanding dedication to ensuring quality outcomes for our patients."
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The 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.
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Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the Committee on Trauma in its current Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual. There are five separate categories of verification in the Committee on Trauma's program (Level I Trauma Center, Level II Trauma Center, Level III Trauma Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center). Each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification. Each hospital has an on-site review by a team of experienced site reviewers.
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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 American College of Surgeons in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.