PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Lives will be saved, thanks to a recent decision by the Virginia Department of Health.
It designates Naval Medical Center Portsmouth as a Level II trauma center. The change took place in late August.
Now, the Naval hospital is capable of handling all but the most severe emergency cases. It also accepts trauma patients who aren't associated with the military. The decision gives emergency responders another option when caring for patients in need of immediate critical care.
"Traumatic injuries are definitely time-sensitive emergencies and we need to get people to care faster. So, when we're able to increase access in that respect, it is truly a game-changer," said David Long, Executive Director of the Tidewater EMS Council.
Long said that since the Level II designation was made, his crews have taken 16 non-military patients to the Naval hospital, improving those patients' chances of survival and giving the Navy doctors and nurses much-needed experience dealing with traumatic care injuries.