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Also playing a role in the team approach are physician extenders, helping to provide additional support to trauma clinical care. The extenders are on-site seven days a week and are also involved in patient, family and staff education, performance improvement and outreach education. It is important to note that trauma care is extremely comprehensive. It begins with injury prevention and extends through rehabilitation and eventually, discharge. The complete care of a trauma patient depends on management at all phases of care. Staff involved in trauma care receive specialized training and education. In addition, the emergency department and all operating rooms and intensive care units must be equipped with certain items for PCMH to maintain its Level 1 status.
lescents, premature infants and newborns, and non-emergency convalescent patients. EastCare services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
to the trauma team at all times, including those in neurosurgery, anesthesia, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation.
PCMH is proud to have earned the highest level of national verification and North Carolina state designation possible for a trauma center. This allows the organization to provide an all-inclusive approach to saving lives in eastern North Carolina.
In addition, the emergency department features a rooftop helipad and command center located on the fifth floor above the facility. Operators communicate with regional referring hospitals to receive vital up-to-date patient information. Once patients arrive via helicopter, emergency medical crews can easily move them to the trauma bay within minutes. Care for trauma patients in the emergency department is accomplished using a team approach. The ED team includes a trauma surgeon, surgical and emergency medicine residents, nurses, radiology and respiratory care staff and others. As a requirement of maintaining Level 1 trauma center status, PCMH maintains a trauma surgeon on duty and in-house at all times. PCMH surgeons are fellowshiptrained in trauma and have added qualifications in surgical critical care. More than 20 sub-specialists are available fall / winter 09
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