Charlotte, N.C. (December 20, 2023) – Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center received an upgraded Level II trauma designation, following a multiyear expansion effort to strengthen emergency care services for the greater Charlotte community. The designation was awarded after a rigorous two-year evaluation process by the American College of Surgeons and the North Carolina Office of EMS.
“Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center has served the Charlotte community for more than 120 years and over that time we’ve been intentional about growing our services to match the needs of the region,” says Saad Ehtisham, DHA, senior vice president, Novant Health and president, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and Novant Health’s greater Charlotte market. “The Level II trauma designation is a testament to the clinical expertise and resources we’ve put in place to ensure that community members experiencing accidents or traumatic events, including community violence, receive the care they deserve.”
Presbyterian Medical Center received its first trauma designation in 2016, laying the groundwork for the advanced trauma and emergency care services that exist today. The hospital recently expanded the emergency department to include dedicated trauma suites, staffed by fellowship-trained trauma surgeons. Patients also have immediate access to more than 20 subspecialities, including orthopedic trauma surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, otolaryngology, infectious disease and critical care services. Specially trained trauma response nurses play a critical role in trauma patients’ care experience, supporting the entirety of a patient’s journey through the emergency department, operating room, intensive care unit and discharge.
Preventing trauma
The Mecklenburg County Community Health Assessment 2019 indicates that community violence has increased 70% since 2014. In response to this concerning trend, and with support from the Governor’s Crime Commission, Novant Health is expanding its community violence intervention program to include the Charlotte region. The program provides crisis intervention for both mental health and interpersonal violence while also fostering relationships to address social determinants of health.
“Our new trauma designation expands the care we offer patients in the acute setting, but even further than that, we are working to interrupt the cycle of violence within our community,” explained Ehtisham. “Novant Health’s violence intervention specialists visit individuals in the emergency room who have been affected by violence, and they build a relationship that extends beyond their time at our hospital with intensive case management services in the months following their traumatic event to ensure they receive appropriate medical follow-up and resources. Novant Health is committed to being an invaluable partner in the community, providing remarkable and expert care before, during and after traumatic events.”
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