Submitted by Peace Health Peace Island.

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center has achieved re-designation as Level IV Trauma Center. The re-designation demonstrates PeaceHealth Peace Island’s commitment to providing the highest possible level of care to islanders and its successful completion of a rigorous outside administrative and clinical review.

The successful achievement of your re-designation is something to be proud of Anthony Partridge, Trauma Designation Program administrator with the Department of Health, wrote in a letter to hospital administration. It is evident that your hospital continues to be committed to the trauma system. Thank you for your consistent participation, and congratulations on the renewal of your trauma service designation.

The re-designation is good for three years and allows the hospital to receive trauma patients from pre-hospital agencies and referring facilities and receive Trauma Fund grants.

Washington State has five levels of trauma designation; PeaceHealth Peace Island and Sensitivity: General Business Use. PeaceHealth United General Medical Center in Sedro-Woolley are among six hospitals in Northwest Washington with a Level IV designation. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham maintains a Level II designation, serving as the regional hub for high-level trauma care.

Jack Estrada, Peace Island chief administrative officer, credited the hard work and commitment by the entire Emergency Department, with special recognition going to Lesley Preysz, RN, Trauma Program manager, and Theresa Loya, director of Clinical Services, for their work on the review.

“We know how important it is to our community to have 24-hour emergency care available right here on the island,” Estrada said. “We are honored to be able to provide this high level of care, and committed to maintaining our Level IV designation.”

About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 1,200 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.