After an application and review by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Waxahachie is now a Level IV trauma center. The added designation for the acute care facility is reflective of the population and hospital’s growth since being built in 2014.
Ellis County grew by eight percent last year, and now has over 130,000 residents. In the past year, the hospital saw over 64,000 emergencies, and is continuing to transition from a small rural hospital to a regional medical center. The hospital has seen double digit growth and has doubled the number of team members in recent years. The trauma center will provide resuscitation, stabilization, facilitation of transfer to major or severe trauma to higher level facilities, and trauma-focused and injury prevention education for healthcare professionals and the public. The hospital is also a primary stroke center according to DSHS.
“We are excited to achieve the Level IV trauma designation,” said Will Turner, president, Baylor Scott & White – Waxahachie via release. “I commend everyone who worked diligently at achieving this designation, as it is evidence of our commitment to this community.”
Turner has only been in the job for three months, but sees this designation as one of many steps to raise the level of care at the hospital, whose reach extends to Ennis, Corsicana, and Hillsboro. “It’s the first step in the process, and we have a number of initiatives and goals to increase level of acuity to treat,” Turner says.
Turner, who moved his family to the growing burg south of Dallas, says that the goal is to support and connect with the community that has been such a welcoming force for him and the hospital. “This recognition is due to the tremendous support we have from the community,” he says.
