MECHANICSBURG (October 15, 2007) -- Level I and II Trauma Center accreditation status has been granted to twenty-seven Pennsylvania hospitals for the period from October 15, 2007 through September 30, 2008:

Regional Resource Trauma Center (Level I)

• Bethlehem - St. Luke's Hospital
• Johnstown - Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
• Philadelphia - Albert Einstein Medical Center
• Philadelphia - Hahnemann University Hospital
• Philadelphia - Temple University Hospital
• Philadelphia - Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
• Philadelphia - The University of Pennsylvania Health System, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
• Pittsburgh - Allegheny General Hospital
• Pittsburgh - The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh
• Pittsburgh - The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian

Regional Resource Trauma Center with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma (Level I AQ)

• Allentown - Lehigh Valley Hospital
• Danville - Geisinger Medical Center
• Hershey - Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Center (Pediatric Level I)

• Philadelphia - St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
• Philadelphia - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh - The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Regional Trauma Center (Level II)

• Abington - Abington Memorial Hospital
• Altoona - Altoona Hospital
• Erie - Hamot Medical Center
• Lancaster - Lancaster General Hospital
• Langhorne - St. Mary Medical Center
• Philadelphia - Frankford Hospital, Torresdale Campus
• Reading - The Reading Hospital and Medical Center
• Sayre - Robert Packer Hospital
• Scranton - Community Medical Center
• Upland - Crozer-Chester Medical Center
• York - York Hospital

Trauma centers are hospitals with resources immediately available to provide efficient surgical intervention to reduce the likelihood of death or permanent disability. Accredited trauma centers must be continuously prepared to treat the most serious life threatening and disabling injuries. They are not intended to replace the traditional hospital and its emergency department for minor injuries.

All accredited trauma centers must meet a stringent set of requirements. In addition, Regional Resource Trauma Centers are required to maintain capabilities for clinical research and external prehospital educational programs in trauma. Trauma centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma must make an additional commitment to provide expertise in the care of the pediatric trauma patient.

The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) is a non-profit corporation recognized by the Emergency Medical Services Act (Act 1985-45) as amended. The PTSF is the organization responsible for accrediting trauma centers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It has been reviewing and surveying applicant hospitals since May of 1986. Trauma experts from across the United States participate in the voluntary cyclical review process.

Each trauma center is an integral component of the emergency medical services system. The EMS system includes appropriate patient care management from the time of injury to treatment at a local hospital and/or trauma center and through the rehabilitative phase.