Tulsa moves closer to Level 1 trauma center with new law

Eastern Oklahoma may soon have access to a Level 1 trauma center, a move health officials say could be life-saving for patients across the region.

Until now, patients with complex, life-threatening injuries had to be transferred to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City or even out of state for the highest level of trauma care. But thanks to new legislation, that could soon change.

St. Francis Health System and OSU Medical Center are working in a new public-private partnership to establish Tulsa’s first Level 1 trauma center. Hospital leadership says this effort, which has been more than a decade in the making, would be a “game changer” for trauma care in the eastern half of the state.

“To have a Level 1 trauma center requires a substantial investment in infrastructure and personnel,” said G.T. Bynum, vice president of public and government affairs for Saint Francis. “There’s a reason there isn’t one in Eastern Oklahoma.”

Level 1 trauma centers, as defined by the American College of Surgeons, must provide comprehensive care for all levels of injuries at all times. That includes having specialized staff and resources available 24/7.

“You don’t have to page somebody and ask them to come in from home or wherever they might be and wait for them to get here,” Bynum said. “They are here, ready to provide that care immediately.”

The need for this level of care is significant. According to Bynum, more than 60% of trauma patients treated at St. Francis come from outside the Tulsa metro area.

“When I first heard about this, I was like, ‘Oh, this is great for Tulsa,’” Bynum said. “But this is something that benefits the whole eastern half of the state of Oklahoma.”

St. Francis has been building toward this goal since at least 2014, when it opened its trauma tower adjacent to the emergency department. The hospital’s ER at 61st Street and Yale Avenue is currently one of the 10 busiest emergency rooms in the United States, according to Bynum.

The hospital is now undergoing the certification process with the American College of Surgeons and could learn by the end of the year whether it will officially become a Level 1 trauma center.

State Sen. Jon Haste, R-Broken Arrow, co-authored both bills that helped pave the way for this partnership and sent us this statement:

“For far too long, families in Eastern Oklahoma have lacked access to the highest level of trauma care. This new plan changes that. With world-class specialists on site 24/7 and a commitment to training the next generation of physicians, this trauma center will save lives, strengthen rural health and set a new standard for emergency care in our state. I am proud of my colleagues in the Legislature who saw the wisdom in investing in this landmark partnership and voted in the best interests of Oklahomans to move it forward.”