SAYRE, PA (WENY) -- The Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital Trauma Unit has just been upgraded to Level I status. This is the highest accreditation the unit can receive, and it is the only facility with this distinction in the area. The trauma unit at Robert Packer Hospital treats over 1,800 patients a year. The new distinction will elevate the standard of care for current patients, as well as advance research for the benefit of future patients. 

“The main difference between Level I and Level II care isn't just the care provided to the patients, but the education of the next generation of surgical residents, as well as research,” said Dr. Steven Casos, M.D, trauma medical director at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital. 

Doctors, hospital officials, and past trauma patients were in attendance this morning for the announcement. They say the level one status will push the current quality of care to even greater heights. 

"[There will be a] big difference in the education and research. Level I center requires many of the things that obviously we already had working as a Level II, but Level I takes it that one step further where you're elevating the quality across the hospital by continuing to evaluate and re-evaluate the care of every single patient,” said Dr. Anne Rizzo, M.D, systems surgical chair for Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital. 

The Guthrie Clinic is the only Level I trauma center in a 12 county service area. There are many benefits this level of care will provide that were not available in the region before. 

"I'm part of the community, as you are part of the community.  Frankly, it's my job to take care of the community, and when I looked at the community and found that the [other] Level I centers were two to three hours north and south of us, that meant that my community wasn't getting the care it needed.  We had the resources and the talent to provide that care, and we stepped up and are doing so,” added Dr. Rizzo. 

As an accredited Level I trauma center, Robert Packer Hospital offers trauma care, surgical critical care, emergency general surgery and emergency orthopedic surgery. It serves patients from hospitals across Pennsylvania and New York, supported by the Guthrie Air medical helicopter service.