About Us
Summa Health Trauma, Surgical Critical Care & Acute Care Surgery is led by fellowship-trained surgeons skilled in managing critically injured and medically complex patients. With a wealth of dedicated resources, our experienced team is trained to quickly assess and treat many different types of trauma from the resuscitation phase through discharge, including:
- Injuries related to traumatic car crashes
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Blunt-force trauma
- Gun shot and stab wounds
- Serious burns/falls
Of the approximately 2,800 patients who annually receive specialized trauma care at Summa Health, 85% are brought in through the emergency department (ED) via emergency medical services. Prior to the patient’s arrival, a multidisciplinary team is activated. This team rapidly resuscitates, stabilizes, and determines the nature and extent of injuries to the patient. Summa Health Trauma remains engaged across the entire care continuum, from prevention to hospitalization and post injury follow up.
Verified Level 1 Trauma Center
In 1997, Summa Health System – Akron Campus was verified as the first adult Level I Trauma Center in the Akron area by the American College of Surgeons. As a verified Level I Trauma Center, providing the highest surgical care for trauma patients, Summa Health provides:
- 24/7 in-house coverage by a team of fellowship-trained trauma surgeons, advanced practice providers and a dedicated trauma-focused navigator.
- Immediate care available in a full range of specialties and subspecialties for injury and non-injury care needs.
- A robust outreach and injury prevention program, targeting our most frequent injury types to help reduce the likelihood of injury before it happens.
- A comprehensive quality assessment program.
- An ambulatory office committed to following patients after discharge.
- A multidisciplinary research program with National Institutes of Health funded research on resilience and adaptation to injury, developing relationships in the neurosciences, orthopedics, geriatrics and emergency medicine research programs, as well as participation in the second largest multicenter trauma study to improve outcomes after major injury with severe bleeding.
Multidisciplinary Approach
Summa Health Trauma coordinates efforts with a wide range of specialists to deliver comprehensive care to our trauma patients 24 hours a day. Based on a patient’s needs, available specialists include:
- In-hospital trauma critical care surgeons 24/7
- Radiology in-hospital 24/7
- Orthopedic trauma specialists
- Neurosurgery
- Vascular and cardiac surgery
- Hand (including extremity replantation)
- Microsurgery/flap reconstruction
- Ophthalmology
- ENT/plastic surgery/oral surgery/dentistry
- Urology
Specialized services include:
- Dedicated trauma operating room 24/7
- Interventional radiologists and endovascular therapies
- Advanced mechanical ventilation
- Extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO)/perfusion
- Massive transfusion
- Advanced operative management of complex rib fractures
Our Services
In addition to providing immediate, comprehensive care to critically injured patients, Summa Health trauma specialists are involved with:
Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery
Our board-certified trauma surgeons provide timely surgical assessment and operative management for general surgery emergencies.
Injury Prevention
A leader in injury prevention, Summa Health Trauma is committed to empowering people of all ages with the know-how to help prevent serious injury and respond to situations where injuries have occurred.
Trauma Education and Training
Summa Health partners with local, regional and national leaders in trauma education to offer ongoing opportunities to all our staff.
Trauma Clinic
Our trauma clinic provides specialized care, immediate treatment, multi-disciplinary approaches, emotional support and education/prevention initiatives.
Research
Summa Health Trauma is committed to pioneering new techniques and technologies to advance available treatment options for critically ill or injured patients.
Trauma and Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (TAP) Trial
This is a large simple trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of a single intravenous (IV) infusion of BE1116 in subjects who have traumatic injury and acute major bleeding.
Meet Our Team
The Summa Health trauma team is led by fellowship-trained surgeons dedicated and available 24 hours a day to provide expert trauma care. They are supported by advanced practice providers and a trauma nurse navigator who care for every part of the patient experience.
Rathna Shenoy, M.D., FACS
Justin Allard, M.D.
Nathan Blecker, M.D., FACS
Katie B Francis, M.D.
Locations
Level 1 Trauma Center
Summa Health – Akron Campus
141 N Forge St.
Akron, OH 44304
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Trauma Clinic – Akron Campus
75 Arch St, Suite 406
Akron, OH 44304
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Patient Story
Sgt. David White
After being injured in the line of duty, Sgt. David White survived thanks to the quick response of Summa Health's emergency and trauma teams.
Resources
Traumatic Brain Injuries: What You Need to Know
When the weather gets warmer in Northeast Ohio, more patients are admitted to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This increase can be attributed to more participation in activities outside that require a helmet, such as riding a bicycle, motorcycle and playing contact sports, such as football.
Brain Basics: What You Should Know About Traumatic Brain Injuries
From a car accident to a sports injury to an unfortunate fall to domestic violence or child abuse, all of these horrific scenarios can result in traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. Head injuries can happen to anyone, at any age, and can damage the brain.
Trauma Center Levels - Explained
While many hospitals have emergency departments, some hospitals are equipped to treat the most severely injured patients. Such hospitals are verified by the American College of Surgeons as Trauma Centers with highly trained doctors who specialize in treating traumatic injuries. These trauma centers are staffed 24/7 and are always prepared to treat patients with any injury.
Why Choose a Level 1 Trauma Center?
