WATERBURY HOSPITAL RECEIVES LEVEL II TRAUMA VERIFICATION THROUGH 2028

WATERBURY HOSPITAL RECEIVES LEVEL II TRAUMA VERIFICATION THROUGH 2028

ACS Verification recognizes Waterbury Hospital’s commitment to providing optimal care for injured patients

WATERBURY, April 2, 2025 ― The trauma center at Waterbury Hospital has been verified as a Level II trauma center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) through Jan. 9, 2028. This achievement recognizes Waterbury Hospital’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.

Waterbury Hospital had to meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and the highest levels of institutional performance, as outlined by the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma. A verified trauma center not only provides hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injuries. This spectrum encompasses the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process for the full continuum of care.

      “This certification reaffirms our continued commitment to delivering the highest standard of care to critically injured members of our community,” said Waterbury HEALTH President and CEO Deborah Weymouth. “Sustaining a Level II trauma designation requires discipline, excellence, and seamless collaboration across many teams. I extend my sincere congratulations and gratitude to our trauma specialists and the entire care team for their extraordinary dedication and consistent pursuit of excellence.”

There are three levels of ACS trauma center verification, each defined by specific standards that speak to the important roles of the center in serving its community. These standards clarify the care that must be available to the injured patient at the facility, along with other expectations related to research and educational contributions to advance the field and to ensure the availability of highly qualified trauma providers in the future.

There are five separate categories of verification in the program. Waterbury Hospital had been previously verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the Committee on Trauma. As part of the verification process, a level of certification is requested by the hospital and a review of the hospital is conducted by a team of reviewers experienced in the field of trauma. A site review was conducted in January 2025 and our hospital was accredited again as a Level II Trauma Center. Elements of Level II Trauma include 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons, as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, and critical care in order to coordinate life-saving care measures, among others.

Of note, patients cared for in ACS-verified trauma centers have a lower risk of death and improved quality of life compared with patients in non-verified centers. A facility earns the title of “designated trauma center” when it meets the requirements of government or other authorizing entities.

As an ACS-verified trauma center, Waterbury Hospital also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know Waterbury Hospital is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.

"ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, Waterbury Hospital has shown a commitment providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS.

Waterbury Hospital is also a participant in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (ACS TQIP).            

About Waterbury HEALTH

Waterbury HEALTH offers comprehensive healthcare services including primary care, emergency and acute care, and home healthcare. Waterbury Hospital, Alliance Medical Group, Cardiology Associates of Greater Waterbury, Access Rehab Centers and VNA Health at Home are all affiliates of Waterbury HEALTH. Serving Waterbury and 11 surrounding communities in Western Connecticut, Waterbury HEALTH is a member of Prospect Medical Holdings Inc., a national family of hospitals and healthcare networks.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 88,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.