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Navy formally cuts ribbon on new Trauma II center at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

The nation's oldest Naval hospital has become the Navy's first Trauma II center, and Navy leaders say the upgrade will save lives in community and in combat.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Dating back to 1830, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is already the nation's oldest Naval hospital. Now, it has a new distinction: it is the Navy's first Level II trauma center.

The Commonwealth of Virginia Health Department awarded the Level II provisional designation in August. On Friday, Navy leaders formally cut the ribbon for the state-of the-art facility.

"We are committed to being a resource to care for critically injured patients, regardless of their affiliation with the military," said Captain Brian Feldman, Director of NMCP, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Now, Portsmouth is capable of handling all but the most severe emergency cases, which is good for the community.

The change also means Navy medical professionals can hone clinical and operational skills they'll need to save lives on the battlefield.

"It really drives us as a navy to make sure that all the sailors, the doctors, the nurses are trained to go out to sea and do that job we have to do in defense of the nation," said Rear Adm. Darin Via, Navy Surgeon General.

In September, Tidewater EMS Council Executive Director David Long told 13News Now that the new designation is huge, and that lives will be saved.

RELATED: Now that Naval Medical Center Portsmouth has been designated as Trauma Level II hospital, Tidewater EMS leader says lives will be saved

"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," he said.

According to the Navy, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth has a staff of more than 4,000 doctors, dentists, nurses and enlisted hospital corpsmen, along with other civilian and contract support personnel.

The facility receives more than 1.5 million patient visits per year.

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