Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Verified as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital has been verified as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons. This achievement recognizes the hospital’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured infants, children and adolescents by physicians, nurses, child life specialists and rehabilitation specialists. The verification comes after a rigorous application and review process.

Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the verification program promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also a range of care to address the needs of injured patients. This encompasses everything from the pre-hospital phase through rehabilitation. This was the first time a separate designation for pediatric trauma centers was required. In past years, Butterworth Hospital and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital were verified together as a Level I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center.

“We are pleased to be recognized by the American College of Surgeons at this highest level,” said Jim DeCou, MD, pediatric trauma director, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “This verification provides independent confirmation of our ability to care for injured infants, children and adolescents suffering from traumatic injuries. We are one of just three Level I Pediatric Trauma Centers in Michigan. As a hospital for children in 70 Michigan counties, this demonstrates our commitment to emergency medicine for children.”

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 more than 72,000 members and is the largest association of surgeons in the world. Longstanding achievements have placed the college in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a member of Spectrum Health, is a Grand Rapids-based hospital serving children throughout Michigan. A teaching hospital, it includes more than 150 pediatric specialty physicians with specialized training in providing medical and surgical care to children in more than 40 pediatric specialties. Visit devoschildrens.org to learn more or devoschildrens.org/2011 to learn about the new hospital opening in 2011.