Valley Children’s Hospital has regained its level two trauma designation.
The designation means critically injured children can be taken right from the site of their accident to the hospital. Previously they would be sent to Fresno’s Community Regional Medical Center or to Modesto.
Children’s gave up its designation 10 years ago due to an inability to maintain the services needed for 24-hour trauma care.
Children’s CEO Todd Suntrapak says that is no longer the case.
“We have a depth in our medical staff that we did not have those many years ago. For instance, we have seven pediatric surgeons. At the time we had two,” Suntrapak said.
Suntrapak says the hospital has doubled the number of trauma cases it handles each year from about 400 in 2006 to 800. Meaning doctors and nurses are keeping their trauma care skills sharp.
