Emergency & Trauma

January 17, 2025

Vanderbilt University Hospital reverified as Level 1 adult trauma center

Trauma patients come to VUH from a region covering 80,000 square miles, and approximately 9,400 acute trauma patients are treated at the hospital annually.

The verification was achieved for the fourth consecutive review cycle, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to providing the highest level of care for injured adult patients from Alabama to Kentucky and throughout Tennessee. (photo by Anne Rayner)

Vanderbilt University Hospital has again been verified as a Level 1 adult trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma. The hospital is the only nationally verified Level 1 adult trauma center in Middle Tennessee.  

The verification, achieved for the fourth consecutive review cycle, recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the highest level of care for injured adult patients from Alabama to Kentucky and throughout Tennessee. 

“The Level 1 Adult Trauma program is a signature program for Vanderbilt University Hospital,” said VUH President Lee Ann Liska, MBA. “Patients from central Tennessee and the surrounding states receive the very best in trauma management and overall care at VUH. We have an amazing team of physicians, nurses, support teams and leaders who contributed to the successful reverification by the ACS Committee on Trauma. They deserve our highest praise and support.” 

VUH is one of 254 adult hospitals in the country to have ACS Level 1 adult trauma center verification and one of only three ACS Level 1 adult trauma centers in Tennessee. Achieving verification signifies that VUH has voluntarily met 122 standards outlined by the ACS.  

Trauma patients come to VUH from a region covering 80,000 square miles, and approximately 9,400 acute trauma patients are treated at the hospital annually. A wide range of injuries are treated resulting from various events such as motor vehicle crashes, gunfire and falls. 

“We are very proud to once again be recognized by the American College of Surgeons with reverification,” said Trauma Medical Director Bradley Dennis, MD, associate professor of Surgery in the Division of Acute Care Surgery. “It is a testament to outstanding work that our nurses, APPs, residents, fellows and faculty surgeons do every single day.” 

Trauma surgeons from other Level 1-verified centers in the country served as peer reviewers during a two-day, virtual site visit to VUH in October 2024. They conducted extensive chart reviews and virtual assessment visits to every area of the hospital involved in trauma care such as the emergency department, blood bank and operating rooms. 

“I was especially proud to hear the glowing remarks the reviewers had for our performance improvement program,” said Dennis, who holds the Carol Ann Gavin Directorship in Acute Care Surgery. “This program is instrumental in helping ensure our patients receive the best possible care. We have a genuine culture here dedicated to patient-centered care that emphasizes continuous self-improvement. This culture extends beyond the trauma unit and includes our consultant specialists, emergency medicine, anesthesia, radiology and rehabilitation services.” 

Among their remarks on VUH’s strengths, the reviewers noted well-funded, prolific research; involvement by trauma personnel in state and regional committees; strong trauma leadership; a robust injury prevention program; and robust, dedicated nutritional, therapy and social work services.  

“We had zero deficiencies and only four weaknesses that were all minor,” said Trauma Program Manager Melissa Smith, MSN, RN. “I’m very pleased that we have the institutional commitment from our hospital to achieve this verification because it’s not easy and requires many resources.  

“This includes everything from providing injury prevention outreach in communities, to delivering multifaceted care for hospitalized patients to ensuring individuals receive rehabilitative services they need after discharge. We’re fortunate at Vanderbilt to have the backing from our leadership to do what we do every day for our patients.” 

The ACS, the largest association of surgeons in the world, is a scientific and educational association of surgeons founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve patient care. 

The ACS Committee on Trauma Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients.