Butterworth Hospital Receives Level One Trauma Center Verification

Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital has been reverified as a Level One Trauma Center by American College of Surgeons (ACS). Spectrum Health Butterworth has been an ACS verified Level I center since 1990.

The verification process promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide hospital resources necessary for trauma care.

“This achievement recognizes the trauma center’s dedication to providing exceptional care for injured patients,” said Tina Freese-Decker, president, Spectrum Health Delivery System. “Spectrum Health provides the complete continuum of care required to address the needs of all injured patients. We are proud of our high level of quality trauma care provided to our patients from our physicians and other trauma team members.”

The verification process is coordinated through the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the ACS. Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance.

“It is an honor to be the only verified Level One Trauma Center in West Michigan,” said Gaby Iskander, M.D., division chief, acute care surgery, Spectrum Health Medical Group. “Achieving this recognition requires effort and coordination. It’s a reflection of the continued dedication of our physicians and trauma team providers across our facility.”

The ACS 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. Spectrum Health Butterworth has applied to renew its Level I trauma designation with the State of Michigan based on achieving ACS verification.

There are four separate adult levels of trauma center verification in the COT’s program, with Level One being the highest verification. Each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification. The verification process includes an on-site team of trauma surgeon site reviewers, who use the current COT manual as a guideline in conducting the survey.

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 ACS in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 12 hospitals, including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 180 ambulatory and service sites; 1,300 physicians and advanced practice providers, which include 1,100 members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group; and Priority Health, a health plan with more than 648,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer, with 22,600 employees. The organization provided $294.6 million in community benefit during its 2014 fiscal year. Spectrum Health is the only health system in Michigan to be named one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems® by Truven Health Analytics for 2015. This is the fourth time the organization has received this recognition.