Rating boosted for UMC trauma

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999 | 11:51 a.m.

The University Medical Center Trauma Unit has become Nevada's first Level 1 facility, which will allow it to conduct a broad range of research on serious injuries and implement more prevention programs.

The trauma center at the Clark County-funded hospital opened in January 1993 and is believed to be among the 10 busiest in the nation.

The center's upgrade from Level 2 was announced Tuesday following a review by the American College of Surgeons. UMC joins an estimated 200 hospitals in the United States with a Level 1 designation.

"Until now, the closest Level 1 trauma centers were in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Salt Lake City," said Dr. John Fildes, chairman of Trauma Services at UMC and chief of the Division of Trauma at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, where he is a professor of surgery.

"Injured patients now receive life-saving trauma care which meets or exceeds the standards found at the top trauma centers in the United States."

Most of the UMC Trauma Center patients -- more than 9,500 were treated last year -- are victims of car and motorcycle accidents, severe work injuries, gunshot wounds, serious at-home injuries and assaults.

Trauma is the No. 1 killer of people 44 years and younger in the United States, and the nation's third leading cause of death for all age groups.

As a Level 1 trauma center, UMC will participate in research activities including laboratory work, clinical trials and epidemiological-based studies. Many of these studies will be funded by state and federal grants as well as private donations, the hospital said.

The center also provides public education on injury prevention and trains medical students in how to treat patients.