Maui Health achieves ACS Level III Trauma Center verification

In honor of National Trauma Awareness Month, Maui Health is proud to announce that Maui Memorial Medical Center has been verified as an American College of Surgeons (ACS) Level III Trauma Center.

“This prestigious designation highlights the hospital’s high standard of trauma care and unwavering commitment to the health and safety of the Maui community,” according to the Maui Health announcement.

This verification confirms that Maui Memorial has met rigorous national standards for timely, specialized treatment of traumatic injuries, with trained personnel, specialized equipment, and well-established protocols in place.

As the only acute care hospital on Maui, this status ensures that residents and visitors can receive advanced, lifesaving trauma care without leaving the island. It also reflects the hospital’s continuous efforts to improve patient outcomes and deliver care that meets the highest quality and safety standards.

“I want to congratulate and thank our entire trauma team and all the departments that supported this effort,” said Lynn Fulton, Maui Health CEO. “This milestone reflects their expertise, dedication, hard work, and tireless pursuit of our mission to provide exceptional health care with compassion, dignity and respect.”

Dr. Caesar Ursic, Trauma Surgeon and Trauma Medical Director at Maui Memorial Medical Center, emphasized the importance of having a trauma program at the hospital:

“Having a dedicated trauma program is essential for providing immediate, life-saving care to our community. Recently, we treated multiple critically injured patients at once due to an unfortunate propane explosion in Kāʻanapali; a powerful example of why this level of trauma care is so important for Maui. With our verified trauma program, we can activate the trauma team and deliver advanced, coordinated and multidisciplinary care to several patients simultaneously—right here in our Emergency Department. Our community can trust that we’re equipped and ready to provide the best possible care when needed most.”

Beyond emergency response, Maui Health is also invested in trauma injury prevention through various outreach and education programs. Initiatives such as Stop the Bleed training, Matter of Balance classes, and ocean safety education are just a few examples of how the trauma team works to empower the community with life-saving knowledge and skills.

“Prevention is just as important as treatment,” said Dr. Ursic. “Our outreach programs are designed to reduce injuries before they happen and to build a healthier, safer Maui for everyone.”

Maui Health reports that with more than 165,000 residents and over 2.5 million visitors each year, the need for accessible, high-quality trauma care on Maui continues to grow. “We remain committed to expanding our services and investing in the resources needed to meet our community’s evolving health care needs—today and into the future,” according to the announcement.  

For more information about Maui Health and its trauma and outreach programs, visit www.mauihealth.org/trauma.