Going Above And Beyond

Barbara Sutton, certified nursing assistant, and Sarah Harms, RN, (right) compare notes in the Emergency Department at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial on Friday. The Emergency Department was recently designated a Level Four trauma center.

Gerber Memorial Emergency Department successfully gets Level Four trauma designation from state

FREMONT– Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial has been officially designated a Level Four Trauma Center, which means its Emergency Department is capable of providing advanced trauma life support (ATLS) prior to transfer of patients to a higher-level trauma center. Under the Level Four designation Gerber Memorial can provide evaluation, stabilization and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients.
“Every day, no matter what the hour, Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial’s Emergency Department team goes above and beyond to ensure the dozens of patients who walk through our doors get quality, compassionate care,” said Susie Gatrell, RN, clinical program specialist and a lead during the review process. “Emergency care requires teamwork, quick decision-making, medical skill and best practices. This designation says a lot about the professionalism and expertise of Gerber Memorial’s emergency team.”
Gerber Memorial’s Chief Nursing Officer Meleah Mariani said the Level Four designation benefits the Newaygo County community.
“Because we’re committed to successfully achieving the Level Four trauma designation, our nurses received highly specialized training and education that will help the families we serve,” Mariani said. “We take a coordinated approach to quickly evaluate, stabilize and decide next steps for our patients. Our emergency team is focused on injury prevention in the community. Ultimately, the Level Four trauma designation is about further enhancing and improving the care we provide to our community.”
State of Michigan authorities evaluated Gerber Memorial on 17 separate categories, each with multiple criteria, and found no deficiencies. The categories ranged from emergency medicine and trauma systems to disaster planning, radiology and outreach and education.
A Level Four trauma center must be able to demonstrate the following:

• Basic emergency department facilities to implement ATLS protocols and 24-hour laboratory coverage.   Available trauma nurses and physicians available upon patient arrival.
• May provide surgery and critical-care services if available.
• Has developed transfer agreements for patients requiring more comprehensive care at a Level One or Level Two trauma center.
• Incorporates a comprehensive quality assessment program
• Involved with prevention efforts and must have an active outreach program for its referring communities

In addition, 80 percent of Gerber Memorial’s Emergency Department nurses have trauma training through Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum Certification.
Prior to the designation, Gerber Memorial’s Emergency Department was a provisional Level Four center. State of Michigan officials conducted a site review at Gerber Memorial in November 2017 and concluded Gerber Memorial had no deficiencies.