Forrest General Hospital Receives Designation as Mississippi’s First Nationally Accredited Trauma Center

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (August 05, 2024) Forrest General Hospital announces its designation as the state’s first American College of Surgeons verified Level II Trauma Center.

To receive this verification, an American College of Surgeons surveyor team assessed Forrest General’s commitment, readiness, resources, policies, patient care, performance improvement, and other program features. One surveyor described Forrest General Hospital as a “tremendous resource” for injured patients.

A verified Level II Trauma Center is able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients. Elements of Level II Trauma Centers include: 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons, as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, and critical care. Level II Trauma Centers also provide injury prevention education, system leadership, and disaster planning for local communities.

 “We are proud to receive this national verification as no other hospital in Mississippi has ever achieved this designation,” said Medical Director of Trauma and Surgical Services, Duncan Donald, MD, FACS. 

According to Donald, in Mississippi, Trauma programs are designated by Levels I, II, III, IV — with Level I being the highest. Mississippi has one Level I Trauma center and only three Level II Trauma centers.

“Forrest General Hospital’s Level II Trauma Center provides an immediate, organized response by a highly-specialized team, 24/7, 365 days a year,” said Donald. “Our Trauma Center is always staffed by board-certified trauma surgeons waiting for a need to arise. The Trauma Center is also staffed by in-house Emergency Physicians, Neurosurgeons, Anesthesiologists, Radiologists, Operating Room teams, and Critical Care Physicians who are available 24-hours a day.”

Forrest General Hospital's Trauma Center provides 24-hour coverage for Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Surgery, Otolaryngology, Urology, and Interventional Radiology services.

 “We have worked extremely hard to go above and beyond the requirements of a Level II Trauma Center in order to meet the needs of our patients at a moment’s notice, greatly improving their chance for survival,” Donald said. Forrest General Hospital also has two helipads – one at the Emergency Department entrance and another in front of the hospital.

Forrest General Hospital also participates in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program which benchmarks our trauma care with more than 600 other centers nationwide. “Trauma care takes a team. We are so thankful to everyone, including the hospital administration, Board of Trustees, staff, and providers, for their commitment to meet the standards required for a nationally accredited Trauma Center,” said Melanie Nunnally, BSN, RN, and director of Trauma Services at Forrest General Hospital.

Receiving this designation from the American College of Surgeons reiterates Forrest General’s commitment to caring for patients in its 19-county coverage area and around the entire state of Mississippi. “This verified Level II accreditation reinforces our mission to “do what is best for our patients” around the clock,” said Millie Swan, Forrest Health vice president.

About Forrest General’s Emergency and Trauma Services:

Forrest General provides around-the-clock emergency coverage for major trauma, general medical treatment, and all other emergency care. Forrest General is the only Level II Trauma Center in the Pine Belt and the only nationally-accredited Trauma Center in the state of Mississippi. The department provides access to board-certified ER physicians and specialists, specially-trained nurses and staff, testing labs and the latest technology.