Note: this editorial was published in the May 10, 2022 edition of the Toledo Blade.
The University of Toledo Medical Center faced a rocky road of ups and downs for several years. Most of those roads seemed to be going downhill.
University and community leaders, dedicated physicians, health-care providers, and staff turned things around. The latest example of the good news for UTMC, the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital, is its designation as a level 2 trauma center. It’s a significant step forward in a short period of time from difficult times.
Facing financial troubles, in 2019 UTMC downgraded their trauma center from a level 1, the highest designation, to a level 3.
In 2020, the plan was to put the medical center up for sale. Things were that bad.
It didn’t happen. A plan, the support of the community, and the incredible, dedicated efforts of UT President Dr. Gregory Postel turned things around.
One sign of that change in attitude was a plan to upgrade the trauma center designation.
The move forward from the loss of status and capabilities took place with remarkable speed. The new status means an increased ability to care for patients with a wide variety of trauma. Level 2 trauma centers must be able to call on certain staff 24/7; that isn’t required of level 3 centers. It means specialists in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, and other staff can respond to get patients the care they need.
That’s what a hospital, and a trauma center are all about.
UTMC’s future looks bright, and each step forward should be celebrated. It’s more than a feel good story.
Having multiple high-level hospitals and trauma centers helps our community. It’s also key to attracting new residents and new businesses because high-quality medical care is high on the list of considerations for most corporations and the employees who work for them.