ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah has been reverified as a Level II Trauma Center for a period of three years, until May 2026.
The Verification Review Committee (VRC), a subcommittee of the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, carefully reviewed the materials provided by the ThedaCare trauma team members. The verification process promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, as well as the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients.
“ThedaCare has the processes and people in place to provide essential trauma care to our communities,” said Lynn Detterman, Senior Vice President of ThedaCare South Region. “We are proud to have ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah serving as our anchor hospital for critical care with services such as the Level II Trauma Center.”
The ACS Committee on Trauma’s verification program confirms that a trauma center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality trauma care for all injured patients. There are five separate categories of verification in the COT’s program (Level I Trauma Center, Level II Trauma Center, Level III Trauma Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center), each with specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification.
“As an ACS Verified Level II Trauma Center, patients can be confident in knowing they are receiving the highest quality of trauma care from ThedaCare,” said Dr. David Schultz, Director of the Trauma Center. “Through the verification process, ThedaCare’s Trauma Program is validated as a leader in caring for patients with trauma related injuries. It takes the work of a large team of people throughout the hospital to meet the high standards set by the American College of Surgeons for a Level II Trauma Center.”
ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah is one of nine adult Level II trauma centers in the state of Wisconsin. Only two hospitals in the state have the adult Level I designation. ThedaCare’s Level II Trauma Center has been continuously verified since 1998.
“With any trauma, minutes matter,” said Dr. Schultz. “The ability to treat severely injured patients throughout Northeast and Central Wisconsin, as opposed to transferring them out of the area, has saved countless lives over the years. ThedaCare is proud to provide accessibility of advanced trauma care.”
Trauma Center Recently Redesigned to Coordinate Critical Care
As part of the $100M investment to modernize ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, the Trauma Center has recently been redesigned and modernized. There are specialized rooms designed to enhance patient care and experience. The Level II Trauma Center at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah cares for people in a 17-plus county area in Northeast and Central Wisconsin.
The layout for the space is centered on the patient. Rooms have been updated with the latest technology, equipment and space to provide each person with the best care experience. For example, in the new trauma rooms, imaging is available in an adjacent room.
Another significant feature of the ThedaCare trauma program is ThedaStar. The air medical program provides helicopter transports and transfers for trauma patients and critically ill patients, including transport from rural hospitals. This collaboration allows for teams, across the entire region, to work in concert with each other.
Since 1986, ThedaStar has completed more than 15,000 flights providing emergency medical transport services to communities across Wisconsin. When ThedaStar launched in June 1986, it was the third air ambulance program in the state, and the only one north of Milwaukee or Madison.
Comprehensive Trauma System Provides Coordinated Care
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Wisconsin has 127 potential hospitals participating in its trauma system, with 13 (10%) of them being American College of Surgeons verified Level I or II adult or pediatric trauma facilities and 107 (84%) being a Level III or IV trauma care facility designated by the state as a part of their voluntary participation in the state trauma system.
Wisconsin’s integrated system of trauma care requires the identification of hospitals as trauma care facilities by using the Level I, II, III, IV or “unclassified” structure. This inclusive system recognizes that all hospitals in Wisconsin (and neighboring states) have an important role in providing optimal treatment to the injured patient.
DHS defines each level for Trauma Care Facilities:
- Level I: Hospital is characterized by capability to provide leadership and total care for every aspect of traumatic injury from prevention through rehabilitation, including research.
- Level II: Hospital provides the initial definitive trauma care regardless of the severity of injury, but differs from Level I in teaching and research capability.
- Level III: Hospital provides assessment, resuscitation, stabilization, and emergency surgery and arranges transfer to a Level I or II facility for definitive surgical and intensive care as necessary.
- Level IV: Facility provides stabilization and advanced trauma life support prior to patient transfer to a Level I or II.
- Unclassified: Hospital has chosen not to be part of the Trauma Care System or has not been approved as a Level I, II, III or IV.
According to DHS, the purpose of the statewide trauma care system is to reduce death and disability after a traumatic injury, while providing the best care possible.
Seven ThedaCare hospitals take part in the Trauma Care System. Those hospitals and trauma designations include:
- ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton: Level III
- ThedaCare Medical Center-Berlin: Level IV
- ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah: Level II
- ThedaCare Medical Center-New London: Level IV
- ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano: Level IV
- ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca: Level IV
- ThedaCare Medical Center-Wild Rose: Level IV
“Through the multiple levels of trauma designation throughout the ThedaCare system, it allows our teams to provide the right type of care, at the right time, in the right place,” said Dr. Schultz. “The dedication to ThedaCare’s coordinated care throughout our service area, gives patients greater access to innovative and specialized care, as close to home as possible.”
About ThedaCare
For more than 110 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to more than 650,000 residents in 17 counties and employs approximately 7,000 providers and team members. ThedaCare has 180 points of care, including eight hospitals. As an organization committed to being a leader in Population Health, team members are dedicated to empowering people to live their unique, best lives. ThedaCare also partners with communities to understand needs, finding solutions together, and encouraging health awareness and action. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts about a patient’s care. ThedaCare is proud to partner with Children’s Wisconsin and Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network to enhance convenient access to the most advanced levels of specialty care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit health system with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, as well as primary care.
For more information, visit thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on social media. Members of the media should call Cassandra Wallace, Public and Media Relations Consultant at 920.442.0328 or the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah switchboard at 920.729.3100 and ask for the marketing person on call.
