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Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center | 7 First Trauma Center for the Victor Valley Advanced trauma care improves emergency response in the community. E arlier this year, Providence St. Mary Medical Center opened the Victor Valley 's first trauma center, celebrating a major milestone for the Apple Valley hospital and its local community. With certification as a Level IV trauma center, the emergency department will be able to provide advanced trauma life support to patients in need. Interim Chief Nursing Officer Jessica Sadowski, RN, oversees the new trauma center. Joining the Providence St. Mary team in October 2023, Sadowski brings a wealth of experience and trauma-specific knowledge to the role. Her previous position as emergency room director at Antelope Valley Medical Center, running one of the busiest emergency departments in California, made her a valuable resource in implementing Providence St. Mary 's new program. As plans for the center progressed, Sadowski collaborated with the emergency department team to develop detailed protocols and establish efficient workflows. Inside the ER, there is a state-of-the- art designated trauma bay, fully equipped to manage all the types of trauma care Providence St. Mary offers. This is a vital component, as there are no other trauma centers nearby—the closest are Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center, both roughly 50 miles away. In close partnership with the education department, Sadowski's dedicated team also implemented comprehensive trauma certification education to ensure that staff are thoroughly prepared to provide specialized care. Nurses working in the trauma center must attend an intensive course and pass a rigorous exam that certifies them in advanced trauma nursing care. TRAUMA CARE AND PATIENT TRANSFER "Being a Level IV trauma center means that we can provide full treatment for mild to moderate injuries related to a traumatic experience. These are injuries that are not life-threatening but require prompt attention," says Sadowski. Some examples include minor injuries from car accidents or falls, simple fractures, lacerations needing sutures, minor burns and mild head injuries without loss of consciousness. As a Level IV trauma center, Providence St. Mary also provides care to stabilize a patient before transferring them to a higher level of care at another hospital, such as Arrowhead Regional or Loma Linda. For pediatric patients, Providence St. Mary partners with Children's Hospital of Orange County. "In the High Desert, if an incident occurs near the hospital, the transportation time to get them to Loma Linda would be quite significant," explains Sadowski. "It would be difficult to try and stabilize the patient in the back of an ambulance that doesn't have the resources or physicians that we do. Our quick action could mean the difference between life and death." Stabilizing patients before transferring them to a higher level of care is the key component Providence St. Mary provides within the trauma spectrum, according to Sadowski. "It doesn't mean we would keep that patient, but that our caregivers have the skills and knowledge to initially treat the injuries before the transfer," says Sadowski. Another advantage of the trauma center is that the specialized training nurses receive significantly reduces the risk of deterioration caused by delays in transfer or identifying injuries. "In trauma nursing, there is a systematic process they run through to ensure they identify both primary injuries and secondary ones that may not be as obvious," Sadowski says. "This includes physical assessments, as well as the use of radiology and other types of diagnostic testing." COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION The new trauma center will also help attract health care professionals to the area. One of the most significant improvements to patient care was the addition of four new trauma surgeons in July. One of these surgeons is available 24/7, collaborating with the emergency department to evaluate and assess patients who might be in critical condition. "This greatly broadens our capability to provide emergency care," Sadowski says. "For example, if someone comes in needing their chest cracked, a procedure where a surgeon cuts through the breastbone to reach the heart, we now have someone who is specially trained to do this right in our trauma bay." The Level IV designation also increases community outreach. A well-known program Providence St. Mary supports and teaches is Stop the Bleed (see sidebar). Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of death from trauma incidents. Learning how to halt bleeding equips more people to be lifesavers in emergencies. Another program the center might organize is educating parents about drowning and pool safety. Sadowski says these events are particularly common in summertime but stresses their year-round importance. "With all the community outreach, the goal is to reduce the number of traumatic incidents by raising awareness about safe practices." Michael Neveux Photography

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