The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS) and the State of Hawai’i Department of Health verified Adventist Health Castle as a Level III Trauma Medical Center, recognizing the commitment to delivering 24/7 comprehensive emergency services. The elevated designation affirms Adventist Health Castle’s services meet national standards for exceptional trauma resources.

In a crisis, every minute matters, and quality healthcare close to home makes a tremendous difference for patients experiencing trauma" said Ryan Ashlock, president and CEO of Adventist Health Castle. "This recognition reflects our team's dedication to serving the community and acknowledges the 24/7 expert quality of care you've come to know and expect. At Adventist Health Castle, patients can count on receiving the care they need when they need it.

Adventist Health Castle joins two other civilian Trauma Centers on O‘ahu, but is the only designated Level III Trauma Center serving patients on the Windward side. “As an emergency room physician in the underserved area of Kā‘ū on Hawai‘i Island, I can tell you it’s critical to have access to quality health care conveniently located in your neighborhood,” said Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green, M.D. “With Adventist Health Castle, our Windward O‘ahu community can rest easy knowing they have comprehensive services and professionals who can immediately intervene in an emergency when every second counts.”

The verification recognizes the resources available at Adventist Health Castle, including highly-trained physicians, nurses, and specialty clinicians ready to assist onsite. Level III Trauma Centers, through an organized trauma response, can provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, stabilization, emergency operations, and also arrange for additional subspecialty care.

“Adventist Health Castle is stepping up to deliver a service that has been much-needed for a long time. The new Level III Trauma Center designation is an incredible enhancement to the safety and health of the residents of Oʻahu, especially on the windward side. We are deeply grateful to the dedicated team at Adventist Health Castle for their everlasting commitment to providing life-saving care when minutes matter. The medical center is a tremendous partner to the first responders of the City and County of Honolulu and they’ve made a powerful investment in the community, for which we are profoundly appreciative,” stated Mayor Rick Blangiardi, City and County of Honolulu.

“The addition of a Level III Trauma facility on O‘ahu’s Windward side will save valuable time for injured patients,” said Director Jim Ireland, of the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Department. “The Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Department will have the option of transporting to Adventist Health Castle, cutting down the time it takes to get a trauma patient into potentially life-saving surgery.”

In addition to its Level III Trauma Center verification, Adventist Health Castle has received numerous additional awards for its work in Hawaiʻi, including a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a bronze standard – Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation, Healthgrades Quality Achievement Awards for Outstanding Patient Experience (10 years running), The American Heart Association Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, America’s Best Maternity Hospitals by Newsweek and more.

The original article was published on the Adventist Health website.