Norfolk children's hospital becomes eastern Virginia’s only Level I pediatric trauma center

Hampton Roads, Virginia -- The Virginia Department of Health has awarded Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters provisional status as a Level I pediatric trauma center.

Level I trauma centers care for the most severely injured patients and have the resources to address all aspects of accidental injury, from prevention through rehabilitation. The pediatric trauma center designation requires CHKD to meet Level I criteria for patients less than 15 years of age.

"At CHKD, trauma patients will benefit from the skills and experience of pediatric physicians, surgeons, therapists and clinical support staff from more than a dozen different specialties and departments," says Jim Dahling, president and CEO of CHKD Health System. "This designation reflects our heartfelt commitment to address the complex medical, emotional and developmental needs of young trauma patients, as well as our capacity to strengthen and expand our clinical care for the benefit of our community.”

CHKD's provisional status will continue until July 25, 2018. At that time, the state will consider CHKD for full approval as a Level I pediatric trauma center.

CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers and satellite offices throughout its service region.