Trauma Center at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
About us
PeaceHealth Southwest's Trauma Center is a Washington state verified Level II trauma center. It is one of three state-designated trauma centers in the Portland metropolitan area and is the only one in Southwest Washington. This trauma center oversees the quality of trauma care in six Southwest Washington counties and is equipped to handle any complex or severe traumas with a multi-disciplinary approach. Our team treats almost 3,000 trauma patients each year.
The team consists of 11 surgeons who are all board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care, and four physician assistants who assist the surgeon in taking care of patients in the ED, ICU, OR, and in clinic. Together, these 15 members are there when the injured patient arrives in the emergency department, round daily in the ICU and ward, arrange the discharge, and continue the care in clinic. We have two surgeons on at a time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Our services
PeaceHealth Southwest Trauma Center is designated center equipped to handle any complexity and severity of a trauma. The center has a multi-disciplinary team consisting of:
- Trauma surgeons with additional expertise in acute care surgery and surgical critical care
- Emergency Medicine Specialists with expertise in stabilization of acute, life-threatening illness.
- Orthopaedic surgeons with special expertise in complex orthopedic injuries including complex pelvic fractures.
- Neurosurgeons trained in all aspects of managing traumatic brain and spine injuries.
- ENT and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) with interest in complex facial fractures.
- Interventional Radiologists that are able to perform procedures such as embolization of a spleen, CT guided drainage of an intra-abdominal abscess, placement of cholecystostomy tube, etc.
In addition, the trauma team works closely with the following professionals:
- Anesthesiologists
- ICU Pharmacists
- Infectious Disease
- Interventional Radiologists
- Nursing care with specific interest in the
trauma patient (including complex orthopaedic injuries) and acute care surgery - Nutritionists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Medicine and Rehab (PM&R)
- Physical Therapists
- Psychiatrists
- Pulmonologists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Social Services
- Speech Pathologists
The trauma providers also work with these clinics to provide follow-up care for those who have been hospitalized for a traumatic injury at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.
Our team
Trauma Surgeons
Physician Assistants
For patients
Pain medication:
- Tylenol and Ibuprofen should be used for pain control unless otherwise stated by your providers. Please let your providers know if you have a history of stomach/peptic ulcers, kidney problems or liver disease
- Narcotic pain medication (Oxycodone) is to be used little as possible, as seldom as possible, to be tolerable. Narcotic pain medication should be reserved for severe, intolerable pain. Over the next few days, you should work on increasing the duration of time between doses and taking fewer pills with each dose.
- Do not drive while taking pain medication.
- Use a stool softener + gentle laxative (Docusate + Senna) or stool softener alone (Docusate) and drink plenty of fluids while you are taking narcotic pain medication as these medications commonly cause constipation.
- For your safety, you are to fill narcotic pain medications will only 1 provider
- Trauma/ACS clinic will not replace stolen or lost prescriptions for pain medications
Please call a few days prior to completely running out of medication. At least 24 hour notice is required for refills. Trauma/ACS hours: Monday thru Friday 9am - 4pm.
Over the Counter Medications:
- Take a Stool softener + Laxative while on narcotic pain medication.
- Take one tablet daily. Please call the Trauma/Acute Care Surgery Clinic if you have issues with constipation.
- Ibuprofen 200mg tablets: 2-4 tablets, three times daily with food as needed for pain. Do not take more than 12 tablets in 24 hours
- Tylenol 500mg tablets:
- 1-2 tablets every 6 hours as needed for pain. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours.
**Take your incentive spirometer home with you and use it often.
If you were told that a chest xray is needed before appointment...
When you call for your Trauma Clinic appointment notify the staff that you have a CXR before your visit
Please arrive 30 minutes before your Trauma Clinic appointment and go to:
Diagnostic Imaging at 505 NE 87th Ave #LL50 (lower level same building)
Follow Up Appointments:
- Call the trauma/ACS clinic on the next working day at 360-514-1854 to schedule follow up with your surgical treatment team. You should arrange follow up for 14 days after discharge for most patients. Please call prior to your appointment with any questions or concerns.
For referring physicians
Rapid Admit/Transfer Line
The PeaceHealth trauma and acute care surgery team strives to meet the needs of the community. Our services are accessible and responsive. We want your patients to receive the best care and get back to living life.
Trauma education
Trauma staff provide education and support to reduce trauma risk through programs such as:
- Trauma Nurses Talk Tough, straight talk to children about bicycle and road safety and to teens about driving responsibility.
- Tread To Safety, a fall prevention program presenting simple steps that can be taken to reduce or prevent the risk of falls among seniors.
- Stop the Bleed, a course that gives participants the training to recognize life-threatening bleeding and intervene effectively.
- Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), a medical training program, for the medical providers to teach a systematic, concise approach to the care of a trauma patient.
To schedule trauma staff for a talk to your group, call 360-514-1675.