HONESDALE, PA — “This is an exciting time for Wayne Memorial, and we want everyone to help us celebrate,” said David Hoff, CEO of Wayne Memorial Hospital/Health System (WMH). On Sunday, October 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. the public is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the helipad site, 1839 Fair Ave. (next to Highland Physicians Family Health Center).

A Geisinger Life Flight chopper will be on the helipad and children are welcome to climb aboard. The event will also offer refreshments, giveaways and information about the helipad and the hospital.

The helipad, less than one mile from Wayne Memorial Hospital, was built to support the hospital’s application for Level IV Trauma status. Level IV trauma centers are able to provide initial care and stabilization of traumatic injury patients while arranging transfer to a higher level of trauma care. In short, the designation will save precious minutes for patients suffering traumatic injury by providing immediate care closer to home. The most common causes of serious or critical bodily injury—traumatic injury—are falls and motor vehicle crashes. These events cause life-threatening trauma in multiple areas of the body. Other common causes include burns, gunshot wounds and assaults.