American College of Surgeons re-verifies DHMC as Level 1 trauma center

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has re-verified Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) as New Hampshireâ s only Level 1 trauma center.
The Trauma Center at DHMC provides care for patients requiring immediate treatment of injuries. Upon providing initial care, the trauma team continues to attend to patients' critical care and specialized needs. The DHMC Trauma Center is a leading program in the treatment and care of injured patients, and serves as the tertiary referral center for complex trauma patients throughout Northern New England.
The re-verification, which was granted in February by the ACS Committee on Trauma, lasts for three years and is the result of a voluntary process.The ACS Consultation/Verification Program helps hospitals to evaluate and improve trauma care. It provides an objective, external review of a trauma centerâ s resources and performance. A team of trauma experts completes an on-site review of the hospital. The team assesses relevant features of the program. These include commitment, readiness, resources, policies, patient care, and performance improvement. The ACS does not designate trauma centers; instead, it verifies the institution has the necessary resources for delivering optimal trauma care.
In addition to its Level 1 trauma verification, DHMC was also re-verified by ACS as the only pediatric trauma center in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that began in 1913. The ACS works to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient. It does so by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.
DHMC 6.28.2012