When Joseph DeLeon became president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth in 2018, one of his goals was to grow the hospital’s capabilities in Tarrant County.
The Fort Worth hospital had to overcome one hurdle: becoming a Level I trauma center.
DeLeon and leadership within the hospital’s trauma program and emergency services started working toward that goal. Texas Health Fort Worth welcomed its first group of general surgery residents in 2021. From there, it was only a matter of time, DeLeon said.
In January 2023, Texas Health Fort Worth was officially designated as a Level I Trauma Center. One year later, the hospital has experienced growth in its trauma operations.
For several decades, Texas Health Fort Worth operated as a Level II trauma center, which meant it could provide trauma care, but was unable to offer more complex, specialized treatment that only a Level I center could provide. A Level I hospital also has to admit a certain number of trauma patients each year, conduct research and train residents.
“We were such a busy Level II trauma center, but going to that higher level meant we had to cross a couple of areas,” DeLeon said. “Launching our first class of residents was the final hurdle that we needed to overcome. It’s just been fast and furious.”
Trauma care is the treatment of critical injuries that threaten life or limbs, according to Penn Medicine. Hospitals that care for trauma centers operate on levels one to five based on resources and patient volume.
Level I trauma centers, also known as comprehensive trauma facilities, provide regional resources for patients who require complex trauma care. These centers are verified by the American College of Surgeons and designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services. A hospital might be verified, but not designated.
Since its designation, Texas Health Fort Worth’s trauma volume has increased roughly 5.2%. The hospital saw 13,110 trauma-related visits in 2023 and 12,465 visits in 2022. There was also a 20% increase in severely injured patients in 2023 from 2022.
Over 50% of trauma patients are over the age of 60, said Nelson Martinez, director of emergency services at Texas Health Fort Worth.
Texas Health Fort Worth’s patient registry grew over 7.2% between 2022 and 2023. The hospital registered 6,734 patients in 2023, an increase from 2022’s 6,280. The hospital reached over 88 counties in five states.
“We record our data at the American College of Surgeons and that means our care is good and reaching different areas,” said Ann Quinlan, trauma program manager at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. “(The designation) has increased the complexity and the volume as we’re chosen as a destination.”
The Fort Worth hospital welcomed seven residents in its first residency class. Since then, the program has grown to 13.
“(The residents) add a lot to the hospital,” Quinlan said. “They’re always curious and always asking a million questions. It’s a great relationship to have in our trauma center, and it’s grown because of the volume of patients we can get through.”
Before Texas Health Fort Worth’s designation, JPS Health Network was the sole Level I trauma center in Tarrant County. JPS earned the label in January 2010.
As Tarrant County continues to grow, health experts are also wondering: Is there a need for another Level I trauma center?
Dallas has five Level I trauma centers: Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Baylor University Medical Center, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, Parkland Memorial Hospital, and Methodist Dallas Medical Center.
Dr. Stuart Pickell, associate professor of internal medicine at Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University, said more Level I centers means additional resources and choices for trauma care.
“From a general standpoint, as the population becomes more dense, you’re going to have more opportunities for accidents and injuries, so it’s important that you have the accessibility of these services,” he said. “Fort Worth is growing and we should also be expanding our ability to handle trauma.”
For DeLeon, the addition of another Level I trauma center in Tarrant County would be good as the city’s population and economy continues to grow. He and his team are going to keep focusing on Texas Health Fort Worth’s trauma care operations.
“We just had a meeting for what the next five to 10 years will look like and, for us, it means continuing to build relationships in trauma care,” he said. “We need to make sure everybody’s involved in that care, and that’s what a health system like (Texas Health Resources) does. It works across the community.”
David Moreno is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports on X.
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