Loudoun Hospital's New Level II Trauma Center Status Impacts Patient Transfers

LANSDOWNE, VA — Inova Loudoun Hospital can now send less trauma patients to Inova Fairfax Hospital as it upgraded its level of trauma care.

On Tuesday, the hospital's Inova Virts Miller Family Emergency and Trauma Center celebrated its upgrade from a Level III trauma center to a provisional Level II trauma center. The new designation means trauma-trained surgeons, specialized nurses, critical care teams and advanced equipment are always on hand. This marks the first Level II trauma center in Loudoun County.

It also means less transfers of trauma patients to Inova Fairfax Hospital, a Level I trauma center. With a Level III center, there is 24-hour immediate care by emergency medicine physicians and availability from general surgeons and anesthesiologists. However, there may be transfer agreements in place for patients needing Level I or Level II trauma center care.

Susan Carroll, president at Inova Loudoun Hospital, noted the provisional Level II status lasts for one year, according to Carroll. The Level II status has been in place since June.

"When someone in our county experiences a traumatic injury, whether it's a car accident, fall or life-threatening medical emergency, they deserve immediate, expert care close to home," said Carroll at the celebration. "Today, we can say with full confidence that they have right here in Loudoun."

Jordan Tyczka, trauma program director at Inova Loudoun Hospital, recalled that the trauma care team was small in 2018 when they pursued Level II trauma center status. After securing that, they were working toward Level II when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Despite the delay, improving trauma care has made a difference. Tyczka recalls a Loudoun County sheriff's deputy critically injured during training. Multiple surgeries and blood transfusions followed before he was released on track for a full recovery.

"At its core, [Level II trauma care] means that the hospital has made a lasting commitment to deliver the highest level of trauma care, not just trauma surgeons but neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, vascular, urology, plastic surgery, ENT, maxillofacial," said Tyczka. "When you walk through our doors after a serious injury, the system is already in place to care for you completely."

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall presented a board resolution honoring the hospital's new Level II designation with Vice Chair Michael Turner. The board is expected to approve the resolution at its Tuesday evening meeting.

Randall pointed to the contribution of first responders as the first step to getting patients the trauma care they need.

"When you talk about minutes that count, we have to recognize our Loudoun County employees, our EMS, our fire department, our sheriff's department," said Randall. "Because if they don't get them here safely, if they don't clear the roads to get them here, if they don't give them the treatment out there including blood transfusions now, then they're not going to get here in time for those minutes to count in the trauma center."

Dr. Edward Puccio, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Inova Loudoun Hospital, would worry about trauma patients transferred to Inova Fairfax being able to make it there alive.

"Having this trauma designation really reassures me that everyone is getting the excellent care that they deserve and close to home," said Puccio. "With the Level II trauma designation we now have the right people, the right tools, the right protocols in place 24/7 to deliver immediate expert trauma care. This means that the patient with traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, critical fractures can receive life-saving interventions without delay right here in Loudoun County."

Philanthropists made it possible for the hospital to pursue the designation, according to the hospital.

"Our family has experienced firsthand how vital it is to have world-class trauma care close to home," said lead donors Sharon Virts and Scott Miller. "When lives hang in the balance, every minute—and every mile—matters. Our family is proud to have supported this effort — and even prouder to see what it’s become."