Several members of the ETMC Athens trauma team pose with the certificate redesignating the hospital as an Advanced (Level III) Trauma Facility. Pictured are (from left) Deanna Evans, RN; Emergency Department (ED) Director David Williams; Sandy Shehee, admissions team leader; Daryl Lunceford, ED tech; Trauma Nurse Coordinator Donna Smith; Emergency Medical Director Dr. Dan Bywaters; and Liz Prater, RN.
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By Toni Garrard Clay
ETMC Athens was recently redesignated as an Advanced (Level III) Trauma Facility by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“You and your staff are to be commended on your commitment to providing a high level of trauma care to the citizens of Athens and the surrounding areas,” wrote Trauma Site Surveyor Scott Christopher in a letter to hospital Administrator Pat Wallace. “It is clearly evident to me that you have a knowledgeable and devoted staff.”
The Level III Trauma Facility designation is good for a three-year period. ETMC Athens has held the designation since March 2000.
A Level III Trauma Facility:
- provides resuscitation, stabilization and assessment of injury victims and either provides treatment or arranges for appropriate transfer to a higher level designated trauma facility;
- provides ongoing educational opportunities in trauma-related topics for healthcare professionals and the publics; and
- implements targeted injury-prevention programs.
“It takes everybody working together as a team to be able to achieve this level of accreditation,” said Trauma Nurse Coordinator Donna Smith, who was singled out for praise in Christopher’s letter. “The level of skill here among the physicians and staff is very advanced.”
Smith, a registered nurse for 19 years working in critical and emergency care, is very active in the Regional Advisory Council for Trauma Service Area G (in which ETMC Athens is located). She serves on the Performance Improvement, Injury Prevention and Emergency Preparedness committees at the regional level and is an active member of the Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum at the state level. She assists in promoting optimal trauma care and acts as a resource person to all patient-care areas regarding nursing care as it relates to trauma patients.
Dr. Danny Pugh has served as the trauma medical director since 1995. As such, he is charged with overall management of trauma services provided by the hospital.
Dr. Dan Bywaters is the emergency medical director and ensures all emergency department physicians are credentialed to participate in the resuscitation and treatment of trauma patients by participating in Advanced Trauma Life Support.
David Williams, RN, is the emergency department director. He ensures that all of the emergency department’s registered nurses are credentialed to participate in the resuscitation and treatment of trauma patients by participating in the Trauma Nurse Core Course and the Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course.
Denise Gabbert, RN, is the director of surgery, and Kristi McCracken, RN, is the director of the intensive care unit. The registered nursing staff of both departments has also participated in the Trauma Nurse Core Course.
Jennifer Smith, RN, is the director of the intermediate care unit, and Wilene Phelps, RN, is director of the Medical/Surgical II Unit. All are instrumental in providing quality care to trauma patients.
“As you are aware, during these times of decreasing hospital reimbursement, increasing supply and equipment costs, increasing regulatory costs and limited healthcare provider resources, hospitals are finding it difficult to keep the doors of the hospital open,” wrote Christopher. “Your facility not only is keeping its doors open, but is adding additional services and contributing to Texas Trauma Systems development.
“For that, you and your staff should be proud!”
