St. John?s receives trauma recertification

St. John's Regional Health Center was recertified by the state of Missouri as a Level I trauma center for injured adults and children. According to a St. John's news release, Level I trauma centers serve as regional resource centers, treating injuries, providing trauma prevention education and outreach, and conducting research.

"In Missouri, the big difference between Level I and Level II centers is that Level I centers are required to have an in-house trauma surgeon 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whereas Level II centers will call surgeons from home when a patient comes in," said Roger Huckfeldt, MD, chief trauma surgeon. Huckfeldt said St. John's treats the third-largest volume of trauma patients in Missouri each year. The state requires recertification every three years.