Trauma

The primary function of Good Samaritan Hospital's Trauma Program is to promote high-quality care of trauma patients from time of injury through dismissal from Good Samaritan Hospital. In addition, the hospital is actively involved in trauma prevention efforts in Kearney and surrounding communities.

Good Samaritan Hospital is verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level II Trauma Center. Verification by the ACS demonstrates that Good Samaritan Hospital has met stringent criteria reflecting committment, excellence and assurance of high quality care for all trauma patients.

Many people have the misconception that trauma care involves only the ambulance system and the emergency department, but it actulally involves much more. As a trauma center, GSH provides all the resources needed to care for injured patients from the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation phase, including staff, equipment and expertise. Care of trauma patients is a team effort involving everyone in the hospital from housekeeping to X-ray, and from pharmacy to physicians.

The trauma program's comprehensive quality improvement program assures constant surveillance of the overall program as well as individual patient care. This attention to detail keeps the trauma program running in top-notch form.

The trauma program serves as an educational and clinical resource for local and regional trauma service providers, including physicians, nurses, paramedics and other clinical personnel involved in the care of injured patients. This is accomplished through such activities as workshops, presentations and regularly updated mailings to communities in the surrounding referral area.

In addition, trauma prevention efforts in Kearney and surrounding communities help boost public awarenesss through many forums including bike rodeos, classes promoting responsible decision-making -- seat belt use and drinking and driving, car seat safety and numerous other programs.