UNC Health Pardee Earns Level III Trauma Center Designation, Expanding Access to Life-Saving Emergency Care in Western North Carolina

UNC Health Pardee has earned designation as a Level III Trauma Center. This significant milestone strengthens Pardee Hospital’s ability to provide rapid, life-saving care for patients with traumatic injuries across Western North Carolina. This three-year designation follows an intensive, 12- to 15-month trauma operational window, followed by an on-site review process by a specially trained evaluator team of trauma surgeons, trauma program leaders, emergency medicine physicians, data scientists, trauma nurses, and state representatives, evaluating everything from patient outcomes and clinical protocols to staff readiness, equipment, interdepartmental coordination, and emergency response systems. 

“This achievement reflects the collective effort of our entire organization,” said Marilee Arnold, Chief Nursing Officer, UNC Health Pardee. “Every department, from the emergency department to radiology, from the lab to the operating room, has played an important role in achieving this designation. Our Trauma Services team works closely with physicians, nurses, surgical teams, support services and EMS partners to provide coordinated, high-quality care when our patients need it most. This designation reflects the strength of that collaboration and the commitment of our teams to building a stronger system of care that will benefit our patients and communities for years to come.” 

For patients experiencing serious injuries, every minute matters. As a designated Level III Trauma Center, Pardee can provide fast access to critical interventions, reducing the time it takes for patients to receive initial trauma care and stabilization. The designation strengthens the region’s emergency care system by ensuring patients have immediate access to specialized trauma services, improving survival through faster definitive intervention, and reducing the need for lengthy transport. It also helps local EMS agencies return to service more quickly to meet community needs. 

This designation recognizes Pardee’s ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, emergency treatment, and stabilization for trauma patients while coordinating transfer when a higher level of care is needed. The achievement reflects Pardee’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality emergency care and improving health outcomes for the communities it serves.