ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital is receiving national recognition for its emergency and trauma services.

The hospital announced its Emergency and Trauma Center was verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

While Phoebe has already been recognized as a Level II Trauma Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health, the ACS verification is described as the “gold standard” for trauma centers nationwide.

In their report, ACS site reviewers described Phoebe Putney as a “critical regional resource” that provides “high-quality, timely, and organized trauma care” to the people of southwest Georgia.

They added that the hospital’s first ACS verification reflects its “commitment to injured patients and trauma providers within the community.”

The ACS also identified 17 strengths in Phoebe’s Emergency and Trauma Center program, including trauma personnel’s quick response times, readiness for sick and injured children, accurate and up-to-date trauma data, and comprehensive patient-centered care.

In a statement, President and CEO of Phoebe Putney Health System Scott Steiner said the milestone achievement was the result of years of hard work.

“This outstanding achievement belongs to every member of our trauma team and to the many people across Phoebe who have helped build this program over many years. ACS verification is not awarded for aspiration; it is earned through demonstrated readiness, disciplined teamwork and an organization-wide commitment to patients. We congratulate our physicians, nurses, clinical staff, registrars, emergency medical partners and support teams whose hard work made this possible. We will continue investing in the people, systems and partnerships that help save lives, improve outcomes and keep more patients near their families and support networks during some of their most difficult moments.”- Scott Steiner

Since Phoebe’s Trauma Center is the only one in Southwest Georgia, doctors say it makes all the difference in the event of an emergency.

“In the trauma world, minutes matter. The time between injury and treatment can be the difference between life and death. There’s something called the ‘Golden Hour of Trauma. Most of those patients die from bleeding. If we can get to that patient within an hour, we have a better chance of them surviving. So, having a trauma center here in Albany in the Southwest corner of the state is tremendous,” said Dr. Leon Dent, a trauma surgeon at Phoebe.

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