MARSHFIELD MEDICAL CENTER-Dickinson has been designated a Level IV Trauma Center by the state of Michigan. From left are Lauren Trudgeon, Emergency Department manager; Robert Tacia, DO, ED doctor; Bryan Brazeau, MD, Trauma medical director/ED doctor; Andrew Flagstadt, trauma program coordinator; Jaimee Rogers, ED unit coordinator; and Trenton Rankin, chief nursing officer Michigan Region. (Submitted photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson has been designated a Level IV Trauma Center by the state of Michigan.

“The Marshfield-Dickinson trauma team spent months of hard work applying and implementing protocols and preparing for and passing the state survey to achieve the Level IV Trauma Center designation,” said Mandy Shelast, Marshfield Clinic Health System MI Region president. “The Level IV designation signifies that a higher level of care is now available to our patients, thanks to the added training and increased medical expertise of our providers. I am proud of the team for continuing to identify ways to improve our patients’ health and safety.”

Elements of Level IV Trauma Centers include having —

— Emergency department facilities to implement Advanced Trauma Life Support, or ATLS, protocols and 24-hour laboratory coverage;

— Trauma physicians, advanced practice clinicians and nurse(s) available upon patient arrival;

— Surgical and critical-care services;

— Transfer agreements developed for patients requiring more comprehensive care at a Level I or Level II Trauma Center(s);

— A comprehensive quality assessment program;

— Prevention efforts and an active outreach program for its referring communities.

“Trauma care is a team effort and every second matters when caring for trauma patients in a rural area,” said Dr. Bryan Brazeau, MMC-D Trauma medical director and an Emergency Department doctor. “We work collaboratively with local EMS agencies to ensure our care is timely and appropriate. Since implementing the changes needed to qualify as a Level IV trauma center, we have seen increased decisiveness and effectiveness in evaluating the next care steps. Not only have we seen improvements in the emergency department, but we have also made great strides in the prehospital setting and inpatient care.”

A Level IV Trauma Center offers 24-hour emergency coverage from providers with ATLS certification. Trauma team members have worked over the past 20 months to implement processes and training to meet the state’s requirements.

“Having the Level IV trauma designation, our community can feel confident knowing that our staff has the specialty trauma training required to provide the highest quality of care for our patients in their greatest time of need,” said Andrew Flagstadt, MMC-D Trauma Program coordinator.

Marshfield Clinic Health System serves Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with more than 1,600 providers comprising 170 specialties, health plan, and research and education programs. Primary operations include more than 60 Marshfield Clinic locations, 11 hospitals, Marshfield Children’s Hospital, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Security Health Plan and the Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation. Learn more at www.marshfieldclinic.org.