Advanced Trauma Care Now Available 24/7 in Hays County

Seton Medical Center Hays Makes Major Investments in Area’s Emergency Care
 

When you’re seriously injured, seconds matter, so it’s critical to have high-level trauma care available close to home. Now, if you live in Hays County or its surrounding areas and experience a life-threatening medical situation you can expect advanced trauma care at Seton Medical Center Hays (Seton Hays) in Kyle.
 
Part of this advanced level of care means that trauma surgeons are now available in the hospital around the clock to treat serious injuries such as severe car or boating accidents and other similar situations.
 
Seton has made other significant investments in the area’s trauma care needs recently, including two brand new state-of-the-art ambulances donated to San Marcos Hays County EMS.
 
Additionally, Seton Hays has invested more than $500,000 to upgrade its operating rooms and emergency rooms with new equipment to provide the best possible trauma care -- a cornerstone of our commitment to meeting Central Texans’ total health care needs. Seton is part of Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system.
 
Trauma care that’s more convenient for everyone
 
“This is a significant advancement in the level of trauma care that residents of Kyle and surrounding counties can truly benefit from, and we are proud to be the leaders in providing the right care in the right place and at the right time,” said Oscar Rios, MD, trauma director for SMC Hays. “Having support from our patients’ friends and family is important during the recovery phase, so now we’re making it convenient for them to get involved by not having to travel to Austin or San Antonio,” Rios said.
 
The hospital, which serves Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties, now provides the most advanced trauma care available in the region between South Austin and North San Antonio.
 
A model that’s based on exemplary national standards
 
“We are leveraging the strength of the Ascension Texas family by modeling our system after the trauma program at the newly opened Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas,” said Neal Kelley, Chief Operating Officer for SMC Hays. Dell Seton is expected to be certified as the only adult Level I trauma program in 2018.
 
“We’ve been looking forward to this for a long time in Hays County,” said James Swisher, Deputy Chief of the San Marcos Hays County Emergency Medical Services. “Having advanced trauma care close by means it gets our patients definitive care faster, and it shortens travel times for our trucks so we can keep our resources back in Hays County instead of having to drive into Austin.”
 
Trauma teams underwent intense training to prepare
 
To prepare for this higher level of trauma care, Seton Hays has been performing regular drills to train staff in specific trauma protocols and equipment. Nurses have received advanced trauma certifications and education in advanced cardiac and pediatric life support systems.
 
The Seton trauma network includes the region’s highest level trauma centers at Dell Children’s and Dell Seton, and advanced trauma care at Seton Medical Center Williamson. The network serves adults in 11 counties and children and teens in 46 counties.