In a landmark achievement for New Jersey healthcare, The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has officially been verified as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
The verification makes Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) the only state-designated Level I Trauma Center in New Jersey to carry the ACS Committee on Trauma’s highest distinction for both adult and pediatric emergency services.
Verification as a Level I center is the highest honor a trauma program can receive. It signifies that a hospital does not just treat injuries but provides a total “continuum of care”—from the moment a child is injured in the field to their eventual recovery and rehabilitation.
“Achieving verification as a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center is the result of a collective commitment to excellence,” Dr. Steven Stylianos, BMSCH Surgeon-in-Chief said.”We help serve as a state and regional resource for acute pediatric trauma care, trauma education, and injury prevention outreach.”
While the New Jersey Department of Health has designated three primary hospitals as Level I Trauma centers, BMSCH is the first among them to secure this specific ACS verification for pediatrics. To earn the title, the hospital had to prove its ability to provide:
- State-of-the-Art Resuscitation: A stand-alone Pediatric Emergency Department with dedicated trauma bays.
- Immediate Specialist Access: 24/7 availability of pediatric neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensivists.
- Specialized Facilities: The largest Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in the state and a Center for Advanced Pediatric Surgery.
- Recovery Excellence: Seamless transition to pediatric rehabilitation therapy at Children’s Specialized Hospital.
“Standing up a Level I Trauma Center is an enormous and profound commitment,” said Alan Lee, president of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital said. “It is underscored by the promise to be ready any time of the day or night.”
By achieving this status, BMSCH has also been recognized as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. This designation serves as a “seal of approval” for parents, indicating that the hospital adheres to the most rigorous national benchmarks and is committed to constant self-improvement.
Studies have shown that patients treated at ACS-verified trauma centers have a significantly lower risk of death and a higher quality of life post-recovery compared to those treated at non-verified centers.
BMSCH is a key pillar of the RWJBarnabas Health Children’s Health network. As an academic medical center partnered with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, it serves as a hub for both life-saving clinical care and the high-level research required to advance the future of pediatric surgery.
