Channel: Lee Health

Category: Education

Tags: car accidentmotorcycle crashtrauma medical directorcritically injuredemslee memorialchest traumamotor vehicle crashtrauma centermass casualtyfallshelicopterlee health trauma center new locationophthalmologyspecialists on call 24/7trauma30-minute response timegunshot woundlee health trauma centerorthopedicsentambulancegulf coast medical centerface surgeryurologystate-of-the-art trauma baysneurosurgerysevere injuries

Description: Whether they come by ambulance or helicopter, patients admitted into the Lee Health Trauma Center are in need of immediate care. “These are severely injured patients,” said Trauma Medical Director Dr. James Kasiewicz. “Gunshot wounds, chest trauma, motor vehicle crashes, motorcycle crashes, falls from heights.” Lee Health has the only trauma center serving our 5 county region. Dr. Kasiewicz said the trauma center admitted 2500 patients last year…a number that has been growing year after year. His team has a 30-minute response time once the call comes in. “We need to have certain specialists on call 24/7 from orthopedics, neurosurgery, ENT, ophthalmology, face surgery, urology.” That heads-up call from EMS allows them to be better prepared once the patient arrives. “We will assign tasks, so if we know somebody has chest trauma for instance, we’re ready with chest tubes to put in to evacuate blood or air or whatever we need to do,” said Dr. Kasiewicz. In January, the trauma center moved from Lee Memorial to Gulf Coast Medical Center. “We have four state-of-the-art trauma bays now, actually we can expand it to eight if we get a mass casualty, which is an increase from what we could do at Lee Memorial prior. We’re able to climate control the rooms, we can take optimal care of the patients,” said Dr. Kasiewicz. Allowing for better care for our critically injured patients. View More Health Matters video segments at LeeHealth.org/Healthmatters Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Lee Health - Caring People. Inspiring Care. Visit LeeHealth.org