CCM Health Designated Level IV Trauma Center

As a validation to CCM Health’s emergency services team’s dedicated efforts to providing high-quality trauma care in its Emergency Room, CCM Health was designated as a Level IV Trauma Center by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) on Tuesday, December 10, 2019.

The Level IV designation was awarded because of the high quality, experienced staff, and state-of-the-art equipment available at CCM Health’s Emergency Room. The designation also means CCM Health’s Emergency Medical Services meets the guidelines of the trauma program and follows best practices for patient care.

Robert Payne, MD, Director of Emergency Medical Services at CCM Health stated “Our emergency services team has worked hard over the last two years to develop and enhance the trauma program to meet the needs of our patients and the communities we serve. The trauma system review committee from MDH was impressed with how far CCM Health has grown.” Brian Lovdahl, CEO of CCM Health, shared “The Emergency Services team at CCM Health provides exceptional patient care and the Level IV Trauma Center designation from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that.”

According to MDH, traumatic injury is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 44, and the third leading cause of death overall, second only to cancer and heart disease. For a seriously injured person, the time between sustaining an injury and receiving definitive care may be an important predictor of survival. The chance of survival diminishes with time, but a trauma system can improve the chances of survival through shortened transit times and better trauma care.

The CCM Health team that helped with the designation work, along with all areas of the hospital, included Patty Frank (COO/CNO), Robert Payne, MD (Director of Emergency Medical Services), Bruce Arvold, MD (Emergency Department Physician), Shoan Loeschke (ICU and Emergency Services Manager), Lisa Worden (Paramedic), and Kelly Quigley (Emergency Medical Technician).