Saint Francis hospital named Level III Trauma Center

Saint Francis Healthcare has been designated a Level III Trauma Center, allowing its doctors to assess, resuscitate and triage seriously injured patients.

The Wilmington hospital joins a handful of other Delaware providers that are Level III trauma centers, including Bayhealth Kent General Hospital, Bayhealth Milford Memorial, Beebe Healthcare and Nanticoke Memorial Hospital.

Saint Francis Healthcare will send trauma patients who need additional care and resources to a regional trauma or specialty center. It will give definitive care to patients whose needs match the hospital's resources, according to the American Trauma Society. 

Christiana Hospital is the only Level I Trauma Center in the state, which is the highest level. This means the hospital is considered a "comprehensive regional resource" that can provide total care to a patient for every aspect of an injury, according to the American Trauma Society.

Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is the only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in Delaware. 

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Over the years, Saint Francis has invested money into training, facilities, surgical and support staff to become a Level III Trauma Center. Representatives from the American College of Surgeons visited the hospital in the past year to confirm that, according to a news release.

The organization then reported to Delaware’s Division of Public Health about the condition of the facility before it was designated as a trauma center. These hospitals are reviewed every three years by out an out-of-state doctor and DPH staff. 

Saint Francis also advertises that it has the shortest emergency room wait time in New Castle County. Its billboard along northbound I-95 near exit 6 shows its current ER wait time.

Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 324-2386 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @merenewman.