Allina Health Owatonna Hospital re-designated as Level 4 Trauma Hospital

OWATONNA, Minn. (April 23, 2024) — The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) re-designated Allina Health Owatonna Hospital as a Level 4 Trauma Hospital. As part of Minnesota’s statewide trauma system, Owatonna Hospital has the resources, skills and training to stabilize a trauma patient – keeping the patient’s condition from worsening and ensuring their vital signs are within a healthy range.

Injury is the leading cause of premature death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On average, trauma claims the lives of 4,300 Minnesotans annually. States with trauma systems have seen survival rates increase by 15 to 20 percent.

Hospitals can attain a Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 designation. As a Level 4 Trauma hospital, Owatonna Hospital staff are trained to safely care for patients with minor to life-threatening injuries in our community before being admitted to the hospital or before transferring them to a higher level of care facility as deemed necessary, such as Allina Health Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

“This is a huge benefit for those living in and visiting our community, as well as for those traveling through,” said Melissa Beaver, RN, BSN, a patient care supervisor and trauma coordinator for the Emergency Department at Owatonna Hospital. “When a trauma patient arrives, we kick into high gear to minimize blood loss, support airways and stabilize the patient for admission, transfer or discharge.”

Minnesota’s trauma system network ensures patients are taken to hospitals with the resources to treat their injuries. This is critical because the time between suffering an injury and receiving the best care is the most important predictor of survival. Minnesota’s trauma system enhances the chance of survival regardless of proximity to an urban trauma hospital.

“We are getting close to our goal of ensuring that seriously injured Minnesotans have access to an organized system of trauma care wherever they are in the state,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham.

Photo Caption: Owatonna Hospital Emergency Department staff are at the ready in our designated Trauma Room. Pictured left to right: Laurel Hoban, RN; Melissa Beaver, RN, BSN, patient care supervisor and trauma coordinator; Makynlee Prokopec, patient care technician; Jared Mosier, RN; Logan Ollman, RN; and Jessica Whipps, RN, BSN, patient care manager.

Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A nonprofit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 14 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.