January 18, 2023
Billings Clinic designated as Montana’s first Comprehensive Trauma Center
Designation aligns with Level I Trauma Center verification
Billings, MT— Billings Clinic is honored to announce that it has been designated by the State of Montana as Montana’s first-ever Comprehensive Trauma Center. This designation was established in January of 2024 by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Service’s Office of EMS and Trauma Systems to indicate the highest level of trauma care available in Montana and aligns with the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Level I Trauma Center verification. In August of 2023, Billings Clinic became the first and only hospital in Montana and Wyoming to earn ACS verification as a Level I Trauma Center.
The newly created state designation is the final step in Billings Clinic’s journey to formal recognition that it provides the highest level of trauma care available in the region, making it the only organization in a 500-mile radius that includes all of Montana and Wyoming to qualify for either distinction. Billings Clinic is the first organization to earn this designation from the State of Montana. Prior to Jan. 1, 2024, Montana did not have established criteria for the Comprehensive Trauma Center designation.
“Making sure that everyone has access to high quality, lifesaving care no matter where they’re at across our region is our top priority,” said Clint Seger, MD, Billings Clinic CEO. “This designation reflects our commitment to that effort and the hard work of people across our health system to elevate care.”
Earning the Comprehensive Trauma Center designation means Billings Clinic offers the highest level of trauma care available in Montana. It requires an organization to meet a rigorous set of standards to demonstrate its ability to not only take on any trauma case when it happens, but also enhance trauma education and community resources. Per state requirements, in order to become a Comprehensive Trauma System, a facility must provide definitive comprehensive care for complex multisystem injured patients, conduct research conducted at the facility, have residency program affiliation and be a leader in professional and community education and system planning.
The closer a patient is to high-level trauma services, the better their chances of survival are. Trauma injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans up to the age of 44, and the fourth leading cause overall for all ages. With a highly rural population sometimes living hundreds of miles from the nearest trauma center, trauma survival rates in Montana are lower than much of the rest of the country. This adds up to make the availability of high-level trauma services throughout the region both critical and urgent.
“As the busiest Emergency Department and Trauma Center in the state, Billings Clinic continues to provide the highest level of care for the most severely injured trauma patients,” said Michael Englehart, MD, FACS, general and trauma surgeon and Billings Clinic Trauma Medical Director. “This designation reinforces the commitment of our entire organization to provide the complete spectrum of life saving care at a moment’s notice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
The verification from the ACS recognizes that, as a Level I Trauma Center, Billings Clinic provides system leadership and comprehensive trauma care for all injuries and that it has the right people and resources to do so effectively and consistently. Being a Level I Trauma Center means Billings Clinic plays an important role in local trauma system development, regional disaster planning, increasing capacity, and advancing trauma care through research. Patient records are rigorously reviewed by Billings Clinic, and independently by the state and the ACS, to ensure accuracy in care and documentation.
As a Level I Trauma Center, Billings Clinic provides the care and resources to treat every type of injury, no matter how serious, at any time. It means a community-focused, integrated system of care will be available to all in need. Additional benefits of Level I include:
- Provides leadership in prevention, training and public education to surrounding communities.
- Provides continuing education for the trauma team members and others throughout the organization.
- Regional care coordination.
- Incorporates a comprehensive quality assessment program.
- Operates an organized teaching and research effort to help direct new innovations in trauma care.
There currently are no other Comprehensive Trauma Centers in Montana and no other ACS verified Level I Trauma Centers in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho or South Dakota. The next closest Level I centers to Billings are in Salt Lake City, UT (548 miles); Denver, CO (555 miles); and Seattle, WA (819 miles).
To learn more about Billings Clinic’s commitment to providing the highest level of trauma care, visit www.billingsclinic.com/trauma. To support Billings Clinic’s Emergency, Trauma and Complex Care campaign, visit www.billingsclinicfoundation.com.
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On Sept. 1, 2023, Billings Clinic and Logan Health united to create one health care system, serving patients across Montana and Wyoming. Two of Montana’s oldest, largest and most comprehensive health care organizations combining is an historic event which brings great opportunities for enhanced health care across our region. With many shared values and a deep commitment to serving all residents of Montana and Wyoming when and where they need us, we look forward to both working together and advancing care throughout the broad geographic area we serve.
Employees and providers from both organizations and, most importantly, patients will benefit from an organization that will have the scale, breadth and capabilities to provide an elevated level of care to the communities we serve, creating greater opportunities over the long term. We will be able to share best practices and advance quality and safety by working collaboratively and supporting initiatives that neither organization could support on its own. As our two organizations begin working together, we will identify many opportunities to better serve our patients, improve our operational performance, enhance our employee and provider experience and position our organization as a workplace of choice. Change is essential to moving forward. There’s still a lot of work to do as we come together, but we are committed to combining responsibly and thoughtfully, and always with the patient at the center.
Together we are now part of a great health care system, and we’re eager to embrace the opportunities ahead. We look forward to everyone joining us on the exciting new journey.
Craig Lambrecht, MD
Chief Executive Officer
Clint Seger, MD
Chief Physician Executive and Billings Clinic CEO
Newly Combined Billings Clinic and Logan Health
