Level III trauma status for hospital
Stone Oak facility one of 17 sites in city
The state has designated Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak a Level III advanced trauma center — making it one of 17 trauma facilities in San Antonio.
As a Level III facility, the hospital on Sonterra Boulevard is among four in the city equipped with cutting-edge technology, dedicated resources and 24/7 trauma surgeon coverage required to care for critically injured patients.
“Our physicians and staff have vigorously trained for this purpose,” said Dr. Jason West, a surgeon and trauma medical director.
The state designates a hospital based on its ability to care for trauma patients ranging from the most advanced — Level I, a distinction held only by University Hospital and Brook Army Medical Center in Bexar County — down to Level IV, essentially the basic hospital emergency room. There are 11 Level IV facilities in San Antonio.
Three years ago, the City Council passed a resolution making it clear it wouldn't support the opening of new trauma centers that would jeopardize Brook Army Medical Center's mission.
At the time, Methodist Hospital officials were considering opening a Level II trauma center — San Antonio doesn't have any of those.
The resolution came as a result of concerns expressed by the then-commander, Brig. Gen Jeffrey Johnson, who said adding trauma facilities could cause the loss of BAMC if there were another round of base-closure hearings.
Even a 1 percent reduction in the military center's emergency department patient volume could threaten the hospital's mission in training thousands of military health professionals for combat, Johnson warned.
But Tuesday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Methodist's new trauma center doesn't go against the December 2017 resolution.
“Our partners at Joint Base San Antonio have assured us that Methodist's Level III designation is in no way a threat to BAMC'S Level I trauma center or any of its missions that serve military communities and the public throughout the region,” he said.
Methodist communications manager Emily Mcloughlin said hospitals seeking trauma designation must obtain support from the organization that coordinates the trauma care system, which in this part of the state is the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council. Both BAMC and University Health are members of STRAC. BAMC spokesman Robert Whetstone said Johnson left command in 2018 and since has retired from the military.
Whetstone said the medical center's trauma mission and community partnerships are unique within the Defense Department.
BAMC receives traumatically injured patients through a written
agreement with the Bexar County Hospital District, which runs University Hospital, while STRAC ensures patients are transported to a health facility that will best meet their treatment needs.
“BAMC also works
closely and proudly with its local Level I trauma partner, University Hospital, to provide optimal treatment of traumatic injuries and to sustain the regional trauma system in times of crisis,” Whetstone said.
Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak received its designation letter from the Texas Department of State
Health Services around Christmas Day.
The North Side hospital opened in March 2009 as part of the Methodist Healthcare System, jointly owned by HCA and Methodist Healthcare Ministries.
Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, Methodist Hospital and North Central Baptist Hospital also
are designated as Level III facilities.
Methodist officials say it is the state’s first hospital to rise from a previously undesignated trauma program to a Level III Trauma Center and receive a perfect score on its first mandatory review.