Sanford Westbrook Awarded Level 4 Trauma Hospital Designation

Sanford Westbrook Medical Center has been designated a Level 4 Trauma Hospital by the Minnesota Department of Health. Employees voluntarily participated in the intense designation process to become part of Minnesota’s statewide trauma system. 

“Trauma care, especially in rural areas of the country, is extremely important for patients and their families who are experiencing a trauma they likely weren’t expecting,” said Stacy Barstad, administrator and chief executive officer of Sanford Westbrook. “We are proud of the work our team did to earn this designation in to provide our community, and surrounding communities, with trauma care right here in Westbrook.”

For a severely injured person, the time between sustaining an injury and receiving definitive care is vitally important. The chance of survival diminishes with time; however, a trauma system enhances the chance of survival regardless of proximity to an urban trauma hospital.

On average, trauma claims the lives of 4,300 Minnesotans annually. States with trauma systems have seen survival rates increase by 15 to 20%. Wide-scale participation in the voluntary trauma system ensures that a statewide, cooperative effort is in place to care for seriously injured patients.

For more information about Sanford Health in Westbrook, visit SanfordHealth.org keyword: Westbrook.