Penn Highlands Elk taking steps to become Level IV Trauma Center

Penn Highlands Elk taking steps to become Level IV Trauma Center

 Update on this from Central PA Fire Wire 

Penn Highlands Elk Steps Toward Level IV Trauma Center—What Does It Mean for Patients?

 Recently, Penn Highlands Elk announced plans to become a Level IV trauma center. While this may sound like a significant upgrade, it’s important to understand what a Level IV trauma center means and what it doesn’t mean

. What is a Level IV Trauma Center in PA? 

➖A Level IV trauma center provides initial evaluation, stabilization, and diagnostic services for trauma patients. 

➖It offers 24-hour emergency care but does not add specialties or advanced surgical capabilities. 

➖The focus is on stabilizing patients before transferring them to a higher-level trauma center (Level I, II, or III) for definitive care. 

Important Clarification: 

➖Any hospital with an emergency room is already required to provide initial evaluation and stabilization for trauma patients. This is not unique to a Level IV trauma center designation.

 ➖Becoming a Level IV trauma center formalizes this process, but it doesn’t fundamentally change the care already provided in emergencies. 

What It Doesn’t Change: ➖This designation doesn’t bring new specialists or advanced care to the facility. 

➖Patients with serious injuries or conditions will still face delays while waiting for transfer to facilities with more advanced resources, as patients already do now. Local EMS providers are well aware of these challenges and work diligently to follow protocols, communicate with medical command physicians, and assess the patient’s condition to ensure they are transported to the closest appropriate facility as quickly as possible. 

While this step is a positive move for the hospital, it’s essential for the community to understand that this designation alone won’t resolve many of the current issues patients face. For trauma patients, rapid access to advanced care at Level I or II trauma centers is critical—and that’s something Level IV status does not provide. It’s great to see Penn Highlands Elk making improvements, but let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture: addressing systemic delays and ensuring timely access to the care patients truly need.

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 Reand more about this here

https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/penn-highlands-elk-taking-steps-to-become-level-iv-trauma-center