San Antonio, TX — The Texas Department of State Health Services recognizes Methodist Hospital Stone Oak's significant investments in improving its trauma services by officially designating the hospital as a first-time Level III Advanced Trauma Center. To receive this recognition, the hospital was found to have zero deficiencies in the state's mandatory survey. According to the state, Methodist Hospital Stone Oak is the first hospital to rise from a previously undesignated trauma program to a Level III Trauma Center and receive a perfect survey on its first review.

Methodist Hospital Stone Oak's elite trauma team has expanded to include dedicated trauma surgeons, a nationally-certified trauma program manager and highly skilled nurses, who are committed to treating traumatic injuries with rapid response and the highest level of care. As a Level III Advanced Trauma Center, the hospital is equipped with cutting-edge technology, dedicated resources and 24/7 trauma surgeon coverage. These specialized surgeons, who are all instructors for the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program, use their expertise to train nurses and other providers on the most advanced and reliable approaches to caring for critically injured patients.

“I am very excited to be a part of the team bringing advanced trauma care to Methodist Hospital Stone Oak,” says Jason West, MD, trauma surgeon and trauma medical director. “Our physicians and staff have vigorously trained for this purpose. We look forward to giving residents of Stone Oak and the surrounding areas the opportunity to have their traumatic injuries managed by specialists from research-based institutions working in a private hospital close to their home.”

The trauma team closely collaborates with the specialty physicians across Methodist Hospital Stone Oak's various service lines to ensure every patient receives the continuity of exceptional care he or she deserves, from trauma care to orthopedic surgery or neurosurgery to rehabilitation and more.

“By bringing this level of trauma care to our community, we no longer have to transfer our patients to other facilities and can instead provide the convenient and life-saving care our community deserves right here in Stone Oak,” says Marc Strode, chief executive officer of Methodist Hospital Stone Oak. “As we have been pursuing this designation over the past year, it has been outstanding to see everyone come together and work so collaboratively around this patient population. I have tremendous confidence in our team and cohesive approach to provide our patients with exemplary trauma care.”