Preparing for the worst
Top trauma surgeons share their experiences at Methodist Dallas' upcoming trauma symposium.
We all remember where we were on 9/11. We remember hearing and watching the news of the Boston Marathon bombing. And so do the medical teams who treated the many victims. They were the second responders caring for critically-injured patients being brought in by any means possible. That's why disaster preparedness has become critical for trauma teams across the country, whether natural or manmade, and why it's the focus of the 16th annual Hobert Trauma and Critical Care Symposium at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.
Methodist Dallas is one of three Level One trauma centers in Dallas County able to handle the most critical patients at a moment's notice. These few centers are capable of providing total care for every aspect of injury, from prevention through rehabilitation. A Level One designation requires 24-hour in-house coverage by general surgeons, and prompt availability of care in specialties such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial, pediatric and critical care. Methodist Dallas sees more than 1,800 trauma cases each year, many of which are motor vehicle accidents and injuries from violence. That's why the trauma team has to be ready for whatever pulls into the ambulance bay.
Now in its 16th year, the Hobert Trauma and Critical Care Symposium will bring some of the best minds in trauma medicine to Dallas on September 30 in Hitt Auditorium on the Methodist Dallas campus. Marc de Moya, MD, FACS, will share what he learned on April 15, 2013 at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital as marathon runners and spectators were injured by homemade bombs; David Livingston, MD, FACS, saw all kinds of injuries as patients were rushed in on 9/11. At St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Michael S. Charles, MD, FACS, has seen the firsthand damage caused by tornadoes tearing through neighborhoods with little notice. In addition, Methodist Dallas trauma surgeons will share their own experiences preparing for disasters and what they see on a daily basis. Two recent trauma patients will tell their stories to FOX 4's Diana Zoga who will moderate a panel on the patient experience.
Emergency teams often say, "Working in trauma is not a career, it's a calling." The trauma team at Methodist Dallas is trained to answer the call when time is of the essence to save lives.
Join us on Friday, September 30 for the 16th annual Hobert Trauma and Critical Care Symposium, click here to learn more and register.