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Health Matters: Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center | 7 Critical Care, Close to Home Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is the only trauma center in all of Napa County, providing exceptional care when the community needs it most. W hat does an average day look like for Matthew Shepherd, MD? Actually, there is no average day. As medical director of our Level III Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, he and his team are ready for any emergency that comes into his department, no matter what it is. Dr. Shepherd is constantly in motion, going from triage to surgery to staff management and back again. Since coming under his guidance in 2009, Providence Queen of the Valley 's trauma center has earned many accolades, such as the Healthgrades Critical Care Excellence Award (2019–2024) and the bronze standard–Level III Geriatric Emergency Department accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians. We caught up with Dr. Shepherd at the hospital, where he shared details about his work and how it all fits within the greater Providence Mission to care for all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. What does it mean to be a Level III trauma center? A Level III trauma center, as verified by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, is a community and/or rural hospital such as Queen of the Valley that provides essential services for trauma patients. It means that we have at least one trauma surgeon on staff and on call every day of the week, every week of the year. The same holds true for emergency room physicians and orthopedic trauma surgeons. In addition, the hospital's emergency department nurses are specially trained and take trauma education courses to help care for patients. Why is the trauma center important to Queen of the Valley and to the Napa Valley community? People can be seriously injured anywhere, not just in big cities with easy access to a teaching hospital. When you need trauma care, you want it close to home. It's important that community hospitals such as Queen of the Valley have a trauma program to immediately evaluate, stabilize and manage critically injured trauma patients. What kinds of traumas do you see? The most common cases are car accidents, motorcycle and bicycle crashes, and people who fall from roofs or ladders or in their homes. We also see shooting and stabbing victims. Tell us about some of your recent cases to demonstrate the range of care available. We recently had two patients who were shot in a grocery store parking lot. They arrived at the same time and required extensive efforts to save their lives. Also, we had a case where a man was working in a vineyard and fell on a stake, which pierced through his torso—that was unusual and challenging. Fortunately, most cases aren't this dramatic; but even the patient who falls off a ladder while cleaning gutters can be seriously injured and need prompt attention. What's your top priority? I work to support the mission of this and all Providence hospitals. As a nonprofit Catholic health care organization, we strive to care for our community in many ways. Every person is worthy of our compassionate care. SAFETY TIPS FALL PREVENTION FOR FLOORS, STAIRS AND STEPS • Remove rugs or use double-sided tape to secure rugs to the floor. • Coil or tape extension or appliance cords next to the wall so you can't trip over them. • Remove clutter from floors, stairs and steps. • Fix broken or uneven steps. • Make sure your path up and down the stairs is well lit. • Have two light switches for your stairs: one at the top and another at the bottom. • If your stairs are carpeted, make sure the carpet is attached to each step. • Install sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairway. Dr. Matthew Shepherd

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