Cleveland-based University Hospitals plans to create a coordinated regional trauma network of UH hospitals.
Here are five things to know about the plans.
1. The initiative will enable UH to respond to community need for more immediate and enhanced access to high level trauma services in UH's expanding coverage area, according to UH.
2. UH said its Level I trauma center at UH Case Medical Center in Cleveland will coordinate with an extended regional trauma system that includes four existing Ohio Level III trauma centers — UH Geauga Medical Center in Chardon, St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights, and Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna, which officially joins UH later in 2015.
3. UH's trauma network would also include UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, located on UH's main campus, the region's only Level I center for children and adolescents.
4. UH said it expects the regional trauma network to provide better coordinated care because participating facilities have the same EMR system, shared clinical processes and consistent staff training.
5. As a next step, UH is working with input from Northeast Ohio municipalities to obtain Level I trauma center verification for Cleveland-based UH Case Medical Center from the American College of Surgeons.
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