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Creighton University Hospital won't get trauma patients

On Tuesday, Omaha Fire Chief Bernie Kanger said his department’s ambulances will send trauma patients only to Nebraska Medical Center and not to Creighton University Medical Center because they are not a certified Level 1 trauma center.

Kevin Nokels, President of Creighton University Medical Center, said Creighton’s trauma center is staffed and operating as a 24/7 comprehensive Level 1 trauma center. 

Nokels said the Department of Health and Human Services’ rejected Creighton’s application for Level 1 status because Creighton submitted their application as a renewal when DHHS thought it should have been submitted as a new application.  I

n a letter dated January 9th, 2015, Nokels said Creighton was notified its trauma center had failed to meet four of more than 160 standards.

"Since that time, everything is corrected.  These are minor deficiencies, none of which impact direct patient care, much more administrative.  And all of those have been addressed and corrected.  So we would just ask for the opportunity to share that plan of correction with DHHS which is the normal process.”

Nokels said Creighton’s services haven’t changed.  He said their trauma team is outstanding and is ready to care for the citizens of the region.  Nokels said he is hopeful this will get resolved quickly.