Southcoast Health announces intent to establish a Trauma Center at St. Luke’s Hospital

Keith Hovan, CEO of Southcoast Health, announced today plans to establish a Level II Trauma Center at St. Luke’s Hospital.

“We all know how important every minute – every second – counts when someone is badly injured,” said Hovan. “No one is more acutely aware of this than our region’s EMS providers, which is why I was delighted to share this information with them this morning.”

Hovan made the announcement at Southcoast Health’s annual EMS provider breakfast, which is held every year during National EMS Week to honor fire chiefs and other leaders of emergency medical services for their work in ensuring that the region has expert and timely emergency care.

“The development of a Level II Trauma Center at St. Luke’s will continue our mission of providing world-class care close to home for our patients and communities here in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” Hovan said.

A Level II trauma center has the capability to see any type of trauma patient and has the same clinical capabilities of a Level I trauma center. A level II center is also not required to conduct research and have academic surgical residency programs. Establishing a Level II Trauma Center, centrally located in the region at St. Luke’s Hospital, will meet a critical community need. When completed, this new program will provide more timely, critical access to exceptional trauma care for patients of our region.

Becoming a Level II Trauma Center is a very rigorous and prescribed process which must be verified by the American College of Surgeons and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. To immediately begin this important work, St. Luke’s Hospital has been actively recruiting leaders and providers who will lead this initiative. Key to this effort will be Southcoast’s newly recruited Chief of Trauma Surgery, Dr. Michael Grossman.

“Dr. Grossman is a skilled and experienced trauma surgeon and leader, having established two trauma centers – one in New York and one in Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Rayford Kruger, Chief of Surgery for Southcoast Health. “Building an expert team will be crucial to the formation of a well-designed trauma program that meets the needs of our patients.”

“I am very excited to be leading the effort to establish St. Luke’s as a trauma center,” said Dr. Grossman. “This is an exciting opportunity for the region and I am thrilled to play a key role at an esteemed organization to make this a reality for the patients of Southeastern Massachusetts.”

St. Luke’s Hospital will be required to submit data to the National Trauma Data Bank and Massachusetts Department of Public Health regarding treatment of trauma patients to be verified and accredited as a Level II Trauma Center. The process will take approximately 18 months to two years.

Cutline- Keith Hovan, chief executive officer of Southcoast Health shakes hand with Kevin Gallagher, fire chief for the town of Acushnet, at the Southcoast Health annual EMS provider breakfast.

Keith Hovan, CEO of Southcoast Health, announced today plans to establish a Level II Trauma Center at St. Luke’s Hospital.

“We all know how important every minute – every second – counts when someone is badly injured,” said Hovan. “No one is more acutely aware of this than our region’s EMS providers, which is why I was delighted to share this information with them this morning.”

Hovan made the announcement at Southcoast Health’s annual EMS provider breakfast, which is held every year during National EMS Week to honor fire chiefs and other leaders of emergency medical services for their work in ensuring that the region has expert and timely emergency care.

“The development of a Level II Trauma Center at St. Luke’s will continue our mission of providing world class care close to home for our patients and communities here in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” Hovan said.

A Level II trauma center has the capability to see any type of trauma patient and has the same clinical capabilities of a Level I trauma center. A level II center is also not required to conduct research and have academic surgical residency programs. Establishing a Level II Trauma Center, centrally located in the region at St. Luke’s Hospital, will meet a critical community need. When completed, this new program will provide more timely, critical access to exceptional trauma care for patients of our region.

Becoming a Level II Trauma Center is a very rigorous and prescribed process which must be verified by the American College of Surgeons and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. To immediately begin this important work, St. Luke’s Hospital has been actively recruiting leaders and providers who will lead this initiative. Key to this effort will be Southcoast’s newly recruited Chief of Trauma Surgery, Dr. Michael Grossman.

“Dr. Grossman is a skilled and experienced trauma surgeon and leader, having established two trauma centers – one in New York and one in Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Rayford Kruger, Chief of Surgery for Southcoast Health. “Building an expert team will be crucial to the formation of a well-designed trauma program that meets the needs of our patients.”

“I am very excited to be leading the effort to establish St. Luke’s as a trauma center,” said Dr. Grossman. “This is an exciting opportunity for the region and I am thrilled to play a key role at an esteemed organization to make this a reality for the patients of Southeastern Massachusetts.”

St. Luke’s Hospital will be required to submit data to the National Trauma Data Bank and Massachusetts Department of Public Health regarding treatment of trauma patients to be verified and accredited as a Level II Trauma Center. The process will take approximately 18 months to two years.

Cutline- Keith Hovan, chief executive officer of Southcoast Health shakes hand with Kevin Gallagher, fire chief for the town of Acushnet, at the Southcoast Health annual EMS provider breakfast.