Trauma center to open

Mercy Health and MetroHealth partner to open facility

Mercy Health Lorain Hospital and the MetroHealth System in Cleveland have become partners to bring a Level III Trauma Center to Lorain County residents.

This is the first time that the more than 300,000 residents in Lorain County will have access to trauma expertise in their home county, according to a news release.

The new Trauma Center will be located at Mercy Health Lorain Hospital, 3600 Kolbe Road, and is based on MetroHealth’s trauma program, the release said.

MetroHealth and Mercy Health Lorain will seek Level III trauma center verification from the American College of Surgeons.

Upon approval, MetroHealth trauma surgeons will rotate at Mercy Health Lorain to provide 24/7 trauma care, according to the release.

In addition, a MetroHealth medical director and trauma coordinator will provide oversight for the day-to-day operations of the center.

MetroHealth also will provide training and education for Mercy Health Lorain nurses and other staff, according to the release.

“This partnership will allow expert trauma care to be available for those living in Lorain County that has before, never been offered,” said Dr. Gil Palmer, chief medical officer for Mercy Health Lorain. “At Mercy, we are always looking at ways to adapt and respond to the needs of the families we serve. There was a gap in the county where a trauma program would fit and now, we have worked to bring one to life.”

“We are honored to expand our services to Lorain County and to provide trauma care at Mercy Health,” said Dr. Bernard Boulanger, executive vice president and chief clinical officer at MetroHealth. “This partnership will save lives and keep patients close to their families and loved ones as they recover.”

MetroHealth’s air transport system, Metro Life Flight, has a Lorain County base and currently takes patients with the most severe traumatic injuries to MetroHealth’s Level I Adult Trauma Center in Cleveland, according to the release.