WBGH Opens Trauma Center Sept. 1

8/31/2017

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (Aug. 31, 2017) – The Trauma Center at Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital opens on Sept. 1, allowing the facility to treat and admit the most serious life-threatening and disabling injuries.

Hospital officials, trauma team members and staff gathered for a ribbon cutting inside the hospital lobby. General Hospital was granted Level II Trauma Center Accreditation, beginning Sept. 1, according to an announcement made last month by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, a non-profit corporation recognized by the Emergency Medical Services Act, is the organization responsible for accrediting trauma centers in the Commonwealth.

There are four levels of trauma centers in Pennsylvania with Level 1 providing the highest degree of resources with a full spectrum of specialists, along with trauma research and surgical residency programs. Level II trauma centers require the same high level of care but do not require research and residency programs.

Cor Catena, CEO of Commonwealth Health and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, introduced members of the trauma team and congratulated them on the effort they put into attaining the accreditation. Denis Tereb, M.D., trauma program medical director, is joined by physicians Kinnard Leatham, M.D., Jaromir Kohout, M.D., and Maria Escano, M.D. Cheryl MacDonald-Sweet is director of trauma services. Other team members are: physician assistants Danielle Yakup and Sean O’Brien; Amy Iskra, trauma performance improvement coordinator; Brent Parry, trauma emergency medical services liaison; trauma registrars Tiffany Patacconi and Dauna Mays; Gail Malloy, trauma injury prevention/outreach coordinator, and social worker Jessica Rosencrans.

The trauma center accreditation coincides with the construction of the hospital’s ICU tower which is scheduled to be completed next year. The tower is a vertical expansion atop the existing emergency department and Heart & Vascular Institute and will expand the hospital’s intensive care unit. A helipad will be situated atop the tower.

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