Grady’s Marcus Trauma Center Again Verified by ACS

Grady Memorial Hospital’s Marcus Trauma Center has again earned the highest national trauma recognition — Level I Trauma Center, verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Designated a Georgia Level I trauma center since 1987, Grady remains the only nationally verified Level I trauma center in metro Atlanta and north Georgia.

The rigorous verification process is voluntary. The process confirms a hospital has demonstrated its ability to provide all necessary resources for trauma care for all injured patients, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and meets the national guidelines set by Verification Review Committee of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons. Level I status is the highest level of recognition. It verifies that in addition to providing all of the necessary services, it also has a training program and actively conducts research on trauma. For Grady, one of the highest volume trauma centers in the nation, attaining this gold standard recognition reaffirms its position as one of the country’s leading public academic healthcare systems.

“Verified trauma centers must meet the high standards set by the ACS for trauma care capabilities and institutional performance. Our success at achieving re-verification validates what we have known for a long time – Grady’s trauma care is second to none,” said Dr. S. Rob Todd, Chief of Acute Care Surgery. “As a nationally-recognized ACS Level I trauma center, our patients and families can rest assured that we provide the highest levels of care.”

ACS is a scientific and educational association of surgeons founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for surgical patients by setting high standards for surgical education and practice. ACS is dedicated to improving the care of the surgical patient and to safeguarding standards of care in an optimal and ethical practice environment.  In order to retain its verification status, Grady submitted itself to an intensive review conducted by an external team of trauma care experts. Grady staff, from administrative to clinical, supported the process.

Grady’s trauma services were thoroughly evaluated using ACS guidelines and met the standards related to trauma resources, care processes, and continuous performance improvement.