LOUISVILLE, Ky. – UofL Health – UofL Hospital has been re-verified as a Level I trauma center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT), recognizing the hospital’s dedication to providing the highest quality of trauma care for all injured patients.
Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and the highest level of institutional performance.
“The re-verification is acknowledgement of all the hard work that happens here at UofL Hospital every day,” said UofL Hospital trauma program director Kim Howard, MSN, RN.
A special acknowledgement to Brian Harbrecht, M.D., trauma medical director, who has served in this role since 2006. Dr. Harbrecht has provided committed leadership and vision for the trauma program. Under his direction, the program has experienced significant growth and development, expanding not only in clinical excellence but also in multidisciplinary collaboration and statewide impact.
Dr. Harbrecht has been instrumental in building a comprehensive trauma service supported by trauma social work, research and data-driven initiatives. His dedication to program development and patient-centered care has strengthened our institution’s reputation as a leader in trauma care and advocacy across the state. His commitment, mentorship and focus on continuous improvement continue to guide the team and shape the future of our trauma program.
There are three levels of ACS trauma center verification, each defined by specific standards that speak to the important roles of the center in serving its community. These standards clarify the care that must be available to the injured patient at the facility, along with other expectations related to research and educational contributions to advance the field and to ensure the availability of highly qualified trauma providers in the future.
The ACS Trauma Verification, Review, and Consultation (VRC) Program helps hospitals to evaluate and improve their trauma care. It provides an objective, external review of a trauma center’s resources and performance. A team of trauma experts completes a site review of the hospital. The team assesses relevant components of the program including their regional role(s), the availability of physical and health human resources, policies, patient care protocols and the hospital’s quality improvement processes. Of note, patients cared for in ACS-verified trauma centers have a lower risk of death and improved quality of life compared with patients in non-verified centers.
The ACS does not designate trauma centers. Instead, it verifies compliance with the standards listed in the manual, Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient. A facility earns the title of “designated trauma center” when it meets the requirements of government or other authorizing entities.
As an ACS-verified trauma center, UofL Hospital also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. Being a Surgical Quality Partner signifies a hospital’s dedication to consistently improving procedures and approaches, while maintaining a critical eye on process at every step. The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know UofL Hospital is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.
Having the expert level of care here in Louisville is important to patients like Scott Lockard, who was in a motorcycle accident in June 2024.
“I was heading to work on my motorcycle. I came around a blind curve and swerved to miss a little deer in the road,” Lockard said. “Thank God I was wearing a helmet. I was thrown off the back of the motorcycle and into the guardrail. It wrapped or twisted my neck around the guardrail. I don’t remember anything after that.”
Lockard was airlifted to UofL Hospital. He had sustained a head wound, broken neck, broken L3, L4 and L5, a broken sternum, neurologically damaged hands and required a rod in his C1 and C2 vertebrae.
Lockard’s sense of humor never left him throughout the experience. “The only helicopter ride I’ve ever gotten to take in my life, and I was completely passed out.”
In total, Lockard spent about two weeks in the hospital. He cried when leaving the hospital, as he didn’t want to leave the people there who felt like family.
“I don’t think there’s a hospital like it anywhere else in the world. They didn’t have to treat me as good as they did, but they did, time and time again,” Lockard said. “All I can do is thank the Lord, my family, the nurses at UofL Health, my friends, just everyone who was there for me. I learned a lot about my own determination, my own willpower, my ability to not give up.”
Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the Committee on Trauma’s Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers that provide the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of injured patient, from preventing injuries before they occur, to the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, all the way through the rehabilitation process.
There are five separate categories of verification in the Committee on Trauma’s program: Level I Trauma Center; Level II Trauma Center; Level III Trauma Center; Level I Pediatric Trauma Center; and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center. Each has specific criteria that must be met. UofL Hospital is one of just two adult Level I Trauma Centers in the state of Kentucky.
