Tripler nurses gain skills to care for trauma patients

[The Patriot]

Tripler nurses gain skills to care for trauma patients

02-12-2019 09:00 PM

Tripler Army Medical Center nurses from across the trauma spectrum attend the Trauma Care After Resuscitation (TCAR) course instructed by Laura Criddle, clinical nurse specialist, to gain the necessary skills needed to care for hospitalized trauma patients, at Tripler's Kyser Auditorium, Feb. 13. This training is one of many initiatives to prepare the hospital to achieve a Level II Trauma Center status by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Since 2016 Tripler has been working towards becoming a Level II Trauma Center, as directed for medical centers by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017. Becoming a Level II Trauma Center is an extremely rigorous and organized process that looks at every aspect of the trauma program as defined by ACS for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient. To achieve verification, the hospital must demonstrate the ability to provide comprehensive care along with a continuum for critically injured patients in the emergency room, operating room, intensive care unit, and wards. Also, ancillary support from the blood bank, laboratory, radiology, interventional radiology, and rehabilitative services are equally critical. The Tripler Trauma Program continues to actively work with each department throughout the hospital to prepare for the upcoming verification site visit, and is inspired by the motto, "A `ohe hana nui ke alu 'ia," translated to, "No task is too big when done together by all."

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