PHS is Level V Trauma Receiving Hospital

Submitted by Carrie Kuchenbecker, RN

May 12, 2026

The South Dakota State Trauma System is a comprehensive, statewide network designed by the Department of Health to provide timely and high-quality care for patients experiencing severe injuries. The SD Trauma System integrates emergency medical services, rural hospitals, and trauma centers to create a coordinated approach to trauma care. Its mission is to ensure that trauma patients receive the appropriate level of care as quickly as possible, regardless of location.

The tiered trauma designation structure classifies hospitals according to their trauma capabilities. Philip is a Trauma Receiving Hospital, which makes us a Level V trauma center based on the requirement that we provide 24/7 emergency department coverage by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, along with registered nurses, laboratory, and radiology services. Our primary role is stabilization, initial treatment, and rapid transfer when a higher level of care is needed.

As the Trauma Coordinator, I am responsible for organizing and maintaining the hospital’s trauma program; ensuring compliance with state trauma designation requirements; coordinating education, training, and tracking required certification for

providers and RNs; managing the trauma registry data reported to the Department of Health; quality improvement tracking. Along with auditing trauma charts for the state registry, I also take this data to the RNs and providers, Medical Staff Meetings, and quarterly State Performance Improvement meetings for review of compliance with trauma protocols and to identify performance improvements areas.

Every three years South Dakota trauma hospitals are reviewed through a site survey by the State Department of Health to ensure that we are meeting the regulations and standards required to continue our Trauma Receiving Hospital Designation. This review also helps to confirm that we are providing timely, high-quality care regardless of the severity of the injury. We were recently granted another three years as a Trauma Receiving Hospital based on our review on May 12. We have an excellent group of providers, nurses, lab, and radiology staff that consistently do a great job to make it possible to continue this designation.