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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Trauma Program Re-Accredited by Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation

PITTSBURGH, October 17, 2001—Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Benedum Pediatric Trauma Center has been re-accredited by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) as a result of its demonstrated compliance with the statewide trauma care standards of the PTSF. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is the region’s only Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Center.

The PTSF, created in 1984, established guidelines to stimulate continuous and systematic improvement in the quality of care provided by the state trauma centers. The foundation conducted an on-site survey at Children’s this summer. Children’s Hospital has received accreditation until 2004.

“The Pennsylvania Trauma System Foundation’s survey team recognized the quality of our program and our staff’s commitment to the care of injured children in western Pennsylvania and throughout the region,” said Henri Ford, MD, director of the Benedum Pediatric Trauma Center and chief of pediatric surgery at Children’s Hospital.

“Children have special needs that are best met in a children’s hospital with a full complement of pediatric services that is committed to the care of injured children,” Ford said. “This re-accreditation confirms Children’s Hospital’s commitment.”

Surveyors commented on the key strengths of the program which included, “excellent clinical care in a high volume setting, focus on injury prevention and community outreach, incredible institution commitment and strong communication among trauma team members.”

More than 42,000 children with critical and life-threatening medical or surgical emergencies were treated last year through the Children’s Hospital Emergency Department and Benedum Pediatric Trauma Center. There are only two accredited Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers in Pennsylvania – Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was ranked fourth in pediatrics by U.S. News & World Report in the 2001 “America’s Best Hospitals” issue.

Contact:
Melanie Tush Finnigan, 412-692-5016, Melanie.Finnigan@chp.edu

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