Trauma Center Gets High Marks

DANBURY –– Danbury Hospital, which first received trauma accreditation in 1997, was re-verified as a Level II trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACOS), Committee on Trauma.

This three-year designation distinguishes Danbury Hospital for its training, expert coordination of care, and 24-hour availability of specialized surgeons, emergency personnel, physician specialists, anesthesiologists, nurses, support staff, and equipment for resuscitation and life-support care to care for severely injured patients or those at risk for severe injury, and for the cooperative relationships with fire and law enforcement teams in the community.

The trauma center is led by Trauma Director/Surgeon Karen Kovacs, MD,as supported by Kathy Lewis, RN, trauma coordinator, and Laurie O’Brien, LPN, trauma registrar.

Danbury Hospital was specifically commended for the commitment of surgeons and emergency medicine physicians (many are instructors in advanced trauma life support (ATLS)); a fast, consistent trauma team response to “Trauma Alert” (within five minutes); the accuracy, completeness, and quality of documentation related to trauma care; its multidisciplinary nursing program; its modern, state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation unit; 24-hour availability of MRI testing; and the capability of accommodating patients requiring ventilary management, as well as the pending arrival of a new multidetector scanner to quickly assess trauma patients