Munson Medical Center receives trauma patients from throughout northern Michigan. When trauma patients arrive, a team of physicians, surgeons, midlevel providers, nurses, and appropriate support staff are already assembled and prepared for rapid assessment and treatment.
Munson Medical Center has been verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons. This achievement recognizes the hospital's dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients. The verification must be renewed every three years.
The ACS recognizes four levels of trauma care, Levels I through IV. The levels are dependent on many factors including hospital staffing, surgical specialties, volume, resources and available programs including community outreach/education, research and surgical residency.
Mission: Our Mission is to provide optimal quality, safe patient care, through physician driven performance evaluation and patient care improvements for the community.
Vision: Our vision is to provide optimal care and resources to the injured patient in the Traverse City community and its surrounding areas through the development of a team driven, trauma center model.
Goals of the Trauma Service
Achieve ACS Level II Trauma Center Verification
Provide injury prevention education for the community
Provide outreach programs for other hospitals in the area that provide trauma care
Improve trauma outcomes and prevent injury through public and professional education
Dedicated Trauma Facilities
A state-of-the-art Emergency Department with 43 patient rooms designed for private, safe, and secure emergency care.
Three large trauma bays located steps away from the ambulance entrance
CT scanner adjacent to trauma bays for immediate diagnostics
24-hour coverage in neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, hand surgery, pulmonology, and oral surgery
24-hour coverage by in-house anesthesiologist
24-hour coverage by radiologist for Level I trauma activations
24-hour coverage for interventional radiologist
Comprehensive quality assurance and improvement program as well as community education and injury prevention.
What is a trauma center?
A trauma center is a system of care within an acute care hospital that provides an organized systematic response of health care professionals to treat those adults or children that have been critically injured. Care of the injured is a team approach, led by a general surgeon with special training in trauma. The trauma surgeon is in charge of the team and organizes the most effective and appropriate response to an individual that has been injured. Trauma is a time sensitive disease, and Munson Medical Center has the speed, efficiency, and experience to deal with the intense demands of an injured patient.
Surviving Trauma
What is the Golden Hour? The "Golden Hour" is a brief window of time in which the lives of a majority of critically injured trauma patients can be saved if definitive treatment is provided. The Golden Hour starts at the moment of injury and allows for 60 minutes to call 911, dispatch an ambulance, transport the victim to a trauma center, and perform the necessary, life-saving intervention.
Trauma is the leading cause of death among those under 44 years of age. More than 145,000 people die in the U.S. from traumatic injury each year. Another 9 million suffer disabling injuries. A Trauma Center saves lives and helps prevent permanent disability. Munson Medical Center has a comprehensive trauma program that meets the American College of Surgeons standards for Trauma Centers, and provides care for all types of severe trauma and life-threatening injuries.
Trauma accounts for more years of lost productivity before age 65 than heart disease, cancer, and stroke combined.
Injury is America’s most costly health issue and accounts for more than $250 billion in annual costs.
About 45,000 patients annually come to Munson Medical Center’s Emergency Department for treatment.
Nearly 10,000 of those patients are suffering from injury.
Surviving Trauma
Surviving a major injury and minimizing the chances of a complication or disability depends on an efficient system of highly specialized trauma care professionals. This system can include:
Access to help (911 emergency dispatch)
Ambulance and Pre-hospital Care
Emergency Care
Diagnostic and Imaging Technologies
Surgery
Critical Care
Basic Hospital Care
Rehabilitation
For some injuries, survival depends solely on prevention!
Trauma Facts
Trauma is a physical injury or wound caused by a violent, external force, which may lead to death or permanent disability.
Trauma is the leading cause of death in people from ages 1 to 44, and is the third leading cause of death overall.
Trauma afflicts all ages and social classes.
Trauma is not an accident! An accident is defined as an unexpected event, happening by chance. Trauma is a definable, correctable event, with specific risks for occurrence.
Trauma affects more than 59 million Americans each year and results in more than 145,000 deaths. Trauma is our most expensive health problem, costing Americans nearly $500 billion annually.
Injury Prevention
Injuries Are Not An Accident
One of the goals of a trauma center is to reduce traumatic injuries by participating in prevention efforts. The injury prevention staff work to identify injuries that frequently occur in the community and the risk factors associated with these injuries. Munson Medical Center partners with schools, community groups, and local businesses to promote preventive measures in the community.
Munson Medical Center is the lead organization for Safe Kids in the Grand Traverse region.
Safety classes
Injury Prevention and Safe Kids North Shore
Safe Kids North Shore is dedicated to the prevention of unintentional injury in children ages 14 and under. The coalition provides unintentional injury prevention education by partnering with local organizations and agencies with the same mission. Safe Kids North Shore is proudly led by MSU Extension and Munson Trauma Services. Safe Kids North Shore serves Benzie, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau Counties.
For more information contact:
Jennifer Ritter
Injury Prevention Coordinator – Munson Trauma Services
Coordinator, Safe Kids North Shore
MSU Extension – Grand Traverse (231) 922-4843 ritterj@msu.edu
Car Seat Safety Checks
Have your child's car seat inspected by Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians for recalls, proper installations, appropriateness for child, and other safety concerns. Car seat safety checks are available at the following locations.
AAA
Second Friday Monthly
10 am - 3 pm
940 US 31 North
Traverse City, MI 49686
For an appointment, call (231) 922-4843.
Grand Traverse Metro Fire Station
Fourth Friday Monthly
10 am - 3 pm
3000 Albany
Traverse City, MI 49684
For an appointment, call (231) 922-4843.
