HONESDALE, PA — On March 2, the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) announced the voluntary withdrawal of Wayne Memorial Hospital’s Level IV Trauma Center Accreditation. The withdrawal will be effective Tuesday, March 31 at 5 p.m.

A trauma center is a hospital capable of providing specialized medical services and resources to patients suffering from traumatic injuries, according to PTSF. Level IV is the lowest classification of trauma centers. It denotes smaller, more rural hospitals that can provide initial care and stabilization of traumatic injuries while arranging transfer to a higher level of trauma care. 

Wayne Memorial initially received certification in 2017. According to reporting from the Tri-County Independent, services will remain the same; however, the hospital wanted to re-evaluate the benefits and restrictions of PTSF’s designation.