Trauma Center

Pikeville Medical Center offers trauma care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Led by surgeons Dr. Aaron Brown and Dr. Rudy Judhan, PMC’s trauma team is comprised of experienced professionals in trauma, the emergency department, neurosurgery, orthopedic trauma, critical care, interventional radiology and local emergency transportation services.

PMC’s trauma services include, but are not limited to, the care of patients who have experienced a motor vehicle or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident, a traumatic fall, a burn or a gunshot wound.

In 2015, PMC achieved accreditation as Kentucky’s only level II trauma center by the American College of Surgeons(ACS).

For more information about PMC’s trauma services and our community outreach initiatives, contact Sandy Tackett, trauma program director, at 606-218-3586 or Angie Reed, trauma outreach and injury prevention coordinator, at 606-218-6334.

PMC is a Level II Trauma Center: Hospital hosts grand opening celebration

The trauma services at Pikeville Medical Center have been verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), a scientific and educational association that improves the quality of care for surgical patients. It is now the only ACS-verified Level II Trauma Center in Kentucky.

The announcement was made during a Grand Opening Celebration for Trauma Services on June 23, 2015 at Pikeville Medical Center (PMC).

As a verified Trauma Center, PMC is equipped and staffed to provide comprehensive emergency care to patients suffering traumatic injuries caused by vehicle crashes, gunshots, assaults, falls or other incidents. The spectrum of care encompasses the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process.

Regulations require that trauma victims be transported to the closest trauma center, either by ground or air ambulance. With the verification, PMC’s Trauma Center is now serving a population of more than 400,000 people; increasing their chances of survival should they be injured.

“Studies have proven that patients suffering from severe traumatic injuries have a higher chance for survival and decreased rates of complications if they are treated in hospitals specializing in trauma care,” said PMC’s Chief Nursing Officer. “The term ‘golden hour’ refers to the time period from being injured until the time the patient receives definitive trauma care. Patients have better outcomes if they are treated within this 60-minute period.”

Prior to PMC offering trauma services, many patients had to be transferred to facilities two hours away. Valuable time in the treatment process was lost.

PMC received its Trauma Center verification by meeting specific criteria established by the ACS and passing an intensive site review by the ACS Verification Review Committee. PMC’s review showed no deficiencies.

“Becoming the only verified Level II Trauma Center in Kentucky and completing the ACS review with no deficiencies really shows the level of preparation and dedication that we put into the process,” said William Peery II, MD, trauma surgeon and medical director of Trauma Services at PMC.

Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) President/CEO Michael T. Rust presented PMC’s state trauma designation certificate during the June 23 event.

“There were 11 trauma centers in this state yesterday,” said Rust. “Today, there are 12 trauma centers and only one Level II trauma center.”

Dick Bartlett, KHA emergency preparedness and trauma coordinator and secretary and trauma coordinator for the Kentucky Trauma Advisory Committee, reported that rural residents experience death due to trauma at a three- or four-times greater rate than those in urban settings.

Dr. Peery added, “Trauma is the number one killer of Americans age one to 46 and, in eastern Kentucky, the mortality rate due to trauma is twice the national average. This is why we’re going to make a difference. We’re going to bring that number down.”

Aaron Brown, MD, trauma surgeon and co-medical director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at PMC, stated, “This area has been in need of a trauma center for many years. PMC’s comprehensive trauma team stands ready to provide quality care to trauma victims.”

PMC’s trauma team is comprised of physicians specializing in trauma surgery, emergency medicine, general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic trauma surgery, orthopedic surgery, vascular surgery, hand surgery, plastic surgery, oral/maxillofacial surgery, anesthesiology, interventional radiology, radiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, urology, podiatry and pulmonology/critical care as well as mid-level healthcare providers, a trauma program manager, and nursing, respiratory, laboratory, radiology and case management staff.