OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital Granted Level III-N Trauma Center Status

On May 5, the American College of Surgeons granted Level III-N Trauma Center status to OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital, the first and only trauma center in Fairfield County.  The hospital had been operating as a provisional Level III-N Trauma Center since September 2024.

In Ohio, trauma centers are initially granted provisional status. Following this provisional period, the center must then undergo verification to continue to operate as a trauma center. During this verification, expert trauma surgeons from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma evaluate the program over two days. The Pickerington Trauma Program met all standards for Level III-N Trauma Center verification.

"Since we received our provisional status in 2024, our team has been able to provide lifesaving care to those who live and work in and around Pickerington,” said Thanh Nguyen, DO, medical director of trauma at Pickerington Methodist Hospital. “I’m proud of the trauma program we have built and honored to work with a team committed to providing this lifesaving care to this community.”

What is a Level III-N Trauma Center?

As a Level III-N Trauma Center, Pickerington Methodist Hospital:

• Meets all the capabilities of a Level III trauma center, with the “N” representing specialized care available for neurotrauma patients.
• Guarantees 24-hour availability of surgical services from board-certified or board-eligible neurosurgeons.
• Has the ability to manage any category of trauma alert activation and resources to treat most injured patients locally.
• Offer prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, stabilization and intensive care, while also providing critical support to rural and community hospitals.

“This accomplishment did not happen overnight,” said Kevin Lutz, DPM, president of Pickerington Methodist. “It is the result of steady planning, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence. From the emergency department and inpatient teams to surgical care, imaging, rehabilitation, support services, and many others across the hospital, everyone played an important role in helping us reach this moment.”

Trauma centers are classified by their ability to provide care, with Level I offering the highest level and specialized resources. Level II centers provide comprehensive trauma care, while Level III-N centers offer advanced neurotrauma care in addition to the initial management capabilities of a Level III center, bridging the gap between Levels II and III.

Continuing to Grow
Pickerington recently began work on an expansion of the emergency department and an additional inpatient unit.   The two-story, 57,000 square foot addition will add:

• 28 ED treatment rooms (bringing total to 44 treatment rooms)
• One additional ED resuscitation room (bringing total to two)
• One additional ED triage room (bringing total to two)
• Two ED intake rooms
• 16 inpatient beds (bringing total to 24 on the second floor)