Sentara Health
09/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/28/2026 11:50
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center earns provisional Level III trauma center designation
Designation fills critical gap in trauma services between Newport News and Richmond, bringing advanced trauma care to the Historic Triangle
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center has earned Provisional Level III Adult Trauma Center designation from the Virginia Department of Health, following years of preparation and a thorough site review in June.
The designation - which required extensive documentation of resources and specialized training of the emergency department (ED) and broader hospital's clinical and support staff - helps ensure that patients in the Williamsburg area have access to high-quality trauma care close to home.
"This is an important milestone for Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and the community we serve," said Kapua Conley, Eastern Region President for Sentara Health.
"It is our responsibility to grow with the community and anticipate healthcare needs. Having a trauma center distinguishes the Williamsburg area as having advanced health services, beyond many communities of our size," Conley added. "This milestone represents another step to ensure that we are prepared to meet the needs of our community today and in the future."
Provisional designation authorizes the hospital to operate as a Level III Adult Trauma Center for one year, during which the trauma team will continue to demonstrate compliance with state standards and further strengthen the program. After the provisional period, the state department of health will conduct a follow-up site review to evaluate the hospital for full Level III designation.
A trauma center in Williamsburg fills a gap in available trauma services between Newport News and Richmond. EMS providers in Williamsburg, James City County, York County, and the upper Peninsula, now have a closer option for transporting trauma patients.
"There's a need for a trauma service in the Historic Triangle," said Taylor Walsh, M.D., Medical Director for the hospital's trauma program and a general surgeon.
"We serve a diverse population, including older adults with complex medical needs and a high potential for complications from injuries. It's a long ambulance ride to Newport News or Richmond. Being close by is better for patients and our EMS partners by reducing travel times and improving timely access to care."
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center provides 24/7 access to emergency medicine and surgical services, including trauma, general, and orthopedic surgery. Level III trauma centers provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, stabilization, and definitive treatment of injured patients as medically appropriate.
To achieve this level of care, the hospital provides continuing trauma education for clinical and support staff. Most of the 40 nurses who work in the ED have completed the Trauma Nursing Core Course through the Emergency Nurses Association, and staff in other units have received specialized training for working with trauma patients. Additionally, Sentara Williamsburg hosts a cadaver lab each year, led by Dr. Walsh, providing staff and EMS professionals with hands-on experience to sharpen trauma care skills and improve patient outcomes.
More than a milestone, the Level III designation reflects years of work and a deepening commitment to delivering advanced trauma care to the Historic Triangle community for years to come.
The designation - which required extensive documentation of resources and specialized training of the emergency department (ED) and broader hospital's clinical and support staff - helps ensure that patients in the Williamsburg area have access to high-quality trauma care close to home.
"This is an important milestone for Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and the community we serve," said Kapua Conley, Eastern Region President for Sentara Health.
"It is our responsibility to grow with the community and anticipate healthcare needs. Having a trauma center distinguishes the Williamsburg area as having advanced health services, beyond many communities of our size," Conley added. "This milestone represents another step to ensure that we are prepared to meet the needs of our community today and in the future."
Provisional designation authorizes the hospital to operate as a Level III Adult Trauma Center for one year, during which the trauma team will continue to demonstrate compliance with state standards and further strengthen the program. After the provisional period, the state department of health will conduct a follow-up site review to evaluate the hospital for full Level III designation.
A trauma center in Williamsburg fills a gap in available trauma services between Newport News and Richmond. EMS providers in Williamsburg, James City County, York County, and the upper Peninsula, now have a closer option for transporting trauma patients.
"There's a need for a trauma service in the Historic Triangle," said Taylor Walsh, M.D., Medical Director for the hospital's trauma program and a general surgeon.
"We serve a diverse population, including older adults with complex medical needs and a high potential for complications from injuries. It's a long ambulance ride to Newport News or Richmond. Being close by is better for patients and our EMS partners by reducing travel times and improving timely access to care."
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center provides 24/7 access to emergency medicine and surgical services, including trauma, general, and orthopedic surgery. Level III trauma centers provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, stabilization, and definitive treatment of injured patients as medically appropriate.
To achieve this level of care, the hospital provides continuing trauma education for clinical and support staff. Most of the 40 nurses who work in the ED have completed the Trauma Nursing Core Course through the Emergency Nurses Association, and staff in other units have received specialized training for working with trauma patients. Additionally, Sentara Williamsburg hosts a cadaver lab each year, led by Dr. Walsh, providing staff and EMS professionals with hands-on experience to sharpen trauma care skills and improve patient outcomes.
More than a milestone, the Level III designation reflects years of work and a deepening commitment to delivering advanced trauma care to the Historic Triangle community for years to come.
Sentara Health published this content on September 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 28, 2026 at 17:50 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]