Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital to seek trauma center designation

ALBANY — The Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Board of Directors has voted to pursue Level II trauma center designation from the Georgia Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma (OEMS/T).

The vote comes as Phoebe is planning a capital project to build a new helipad adjacent to the hospital’s emergency department, an important step toward creating a trauma center.

“Currently, we have the equipment, training and staff to properly handle many trauma cases,” Phoebe Emergency Medical Services Medical Director Dr. James E. Black said. “This vote, however, shows our commitment to expanding our capabilities to provide lifesaving emergency care to the vast majority of patients who suffer traumatic injuries in our area.”

Phoebe officials say they are working closely with the leadership of the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission, including chairman Dr. Dennis Ashley, who is also director of Trauma and Critical Care at The Medical Center, Navicent Health, and chairman of the Mercer University School of Medicine Department of Surgery, both in Macon. As part of the process, Phoebe is expected to soon appoint a trauma coordinator, trauma medical director and trauma registrars to lead the development of the trauma program based on recommendations established by the American College of Surgeons and to collect required data.

There are currently 10 Level II and five Level I designated trauma centers in Georgia, in addition to several centers specializing in burn and pediatric patients, and one Level II center in the region served by Phoebe.

“There really isn’t a difference in the sophistication of clinical care provided by Level I and Level II centers,” Black said. “The main distinction is Level I centers conduct research and education and participate in the training of residents. We are confident a Level II designation for Phoebe would greatly benefit southwest Georgians and would keep more trauma patients closer to home for care.”

Trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1-44, and death rates increase as a patient’s distance from a trauma center increases. Currently, the only Level II centers in Georgia south of Macon and west of Savannah are in Columbus and Thomasville.

“Studies prove a patient’s probability of survival improves dramatically when he or she is treated at a trauma center,” Black said. “Right now, there is a gap in service in our part of the state. We hope to close that gap by earning Level II trauma center designation.”

Officials said that once OEMS/T accepts Phoebe’s registry and after approximately 18 months of preparation, a team of experts will review Phoebe’s submitted documents and conduct a site visit before making a recommendation to OEMS/T, which in turn, will submit a recommendation to the medical director for the Georgia Department of Public Health, OEMS/T to decide whether to accept Phoebe into the statewide trauma network.

“This journey represents a major commitment by Phoebe to the people of southwest Georgia and involves an anticipated investment of more than $5.8 million over the next five years,” Phoebe President and CEO Joel Wernick said. “We strongly believe a designated trauma center is needed in Albany, and it has long been a goal of Phoebe to join Georgia’s trauma care network.

“After a great deal of long-term planning and preparation, we are convinced now is the right time to pursue this designation.”

Phoebe is actively recruiting trauma surgeons who are expected to play an integral role in achieving the state designation. The new helipad is also an important part of Phoebe’s planned trauma program meant to enhance the care for trauma patients.

It will be built on top of the parking garage next to the emergency department, eliminating a number of parking spaces.

The Albany-Dougherty Historic Preservation Commission has approved a plan to raze several structures adjacent to Phoebe’s main campus that sustained major storm damage two years ago. This work is expected to make room for additional parking and will relieve overcrowding in the small parking lots designated for emergency room and the community care clinic patients, making it easier for the public to access the main ER and the clinic.

“The helipad project alone is an investment of more than $1 million in our patients,” Phoebe Senior Vice President for Operations Jeff Flowers said. “We believe it will bolster our efforts to achieve trauma center designation by easing congestion and improving the transport of emergency patients.

“Currently, helicopters transporting patients must land in a field a block away. The new helipad will increase speed and efficiency in cases where seconds truly can make a difference.”

Officials at Phoebe said they hope to complete the helipad in the upcoming fiscal year and are planning official notification soon to the Georgia Region VIII EMS Council and OEMS/T of the hospital’s intention to seek trauma center designation. The entire designation process should take 18-24 months.

“We are confident in our ability to meet the requirements set forth by the state,”Wernick said. “We hope to earn official state designation as a trauma center and look forward to becoming the next member of the Georgia Trauma Care Network.”