by Staff Report
The Island Hospital emergency department has achieved a Level III Trauma designation from the State of Washington Department of Health.
“Level III” requires a physician trained in emergency care to be on site 24 hours a day and a trauma surgeon to be available on-call at all times.
The Department of Health surveys emergency departments around the state every three years to make sure they are maintaining or exceeding certain standards of care and follow policies established by the state.
Because of its new facility, Island Hospital has received more emergency room visits. In 2002 it received 9,241 and in 2007 it received 11,536.
Skagit Valley Hospital has Level III Trauma designation, and United General Hospital has Level IV Trauma designation.
