Saint Francis Hospital and Saint Mary’s Hospital Receive Trauma Center Recertification from the American College of Surgeons
HARTFORD, Conn. (August 21, 2025) – Trinity Health Of New England is proud to announce Saint Francis Hospital and Saint Mary’s Hospital have both received recertification as Trauma Centers by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Saint Francis is verified as a Level I Trauma Center while Saint Mary’s is verified as a Level II Trauma Center. Standards for Trauma Center distinction denote the spectrum of care that must be available to the injured patient at the facility.
Saint Francis was initially verified as a Level I Trauma Center in 2018. Level I Trauma Centers serve as a comprehensive regional resource and are tertiary care facilities, providing total care for every aspect of injury, from prevention through rehabilitation. Key elements of a Level I center include:
24/7 in-house coverage by general surgeons • Dedicated trauma team including a surgical director with advanced critical care training
On-site prompt availability of specialty care in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, plastic surgery, critical care, and others
Operation of an organized teaching and research effort to help direct new innovations in trauma care
Provide leadership in prevention and public education programs within the community
Offer programs for substance abuse screening and patient intervention • Admit a high volume of trauma patients annually
Saint Mary’s continues to meet the rigorous standards required for Level II designation. Level II centers are expected to provide initial definitive trauma care for a wide range of injuries and injury severity and may take on additional responsibilities in the region related to education, system leadership, and disaster planning. Key elements of a Level II Trauma Center include:
24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons
Prompt availability by specialties such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, and critical care
Ability to provide comprehensive trauma care while referring select tertiary care needs to a Level I Trauma Center
Trauma prevention initiatives and ongoing education programs for staff
Involvement with prevention efforts and active outreach program for its referring communities
“Saint Francis and Saint Mary’s receiving trauma center recertification by the American College of Surgeons means Trinity Health Of New England has the capacity and capability to provide the most advanced life-saving measures available and underscores our commitment to the communities we serve in Hartford, Waterbury, and the surrounding areas,” said Montez Carter, PharmD, FACHE, President & CEO, Trinity Health Of New England.
The Saint Francis Trauma Department is led by Andrew Doben, MD, FACS, Trauma Medical Director, and Taylor Fusco-Ruiz, BS, RN, Trauma Program Manager. The Saint Mary’s Trauma Department is led by Carina Biggs, MD, Trauma Medical Director, and Roxanne Tapley, DNP, MSN, RN, Trauma Program Manager.
About Trinity Health Of New England
Trinity Health Of New England is an integrated nonprofit health care delivery system formed in 2015 and is a member of Trinity Health located in Livonia, Michigan, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation serving communities in 22 states. Trinity Health Of New England is comprised of Saint Francis Hospital and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut; Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs, Connecticut; Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut; Mercy Medical Center, Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital, and Brightside for Families and Children in Springfield, Massachusetts; and Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group, a primary and multi-specialty physician group with locations across Connecticut and western Massachusetts. Visit TrinityHealthOfNE.org for more information and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @THOfNewEngland.