Trauma center teams up

The Trauma Center at the University of Pennsylvania is teaming up with the Trauma Center at Brandywine Hospital in an effort to serve larger geographic areas of eastern Pennsylvania. The union will allow Chester County residents to benefit from both institutions' resources at the same time, said Chief of the Division of Traumatology and Surgical Critical Care, C. William Schwab, MD. "By combining the services of a community trauma service with that of a university-based program, optimal care of the injured patient will be ensured," Schwab said. And Michael F. Rotondo, MD was named Schwab's counterpart at Brandywine Hospital. Physicians at the two trauma divisions will rotate between institutions. "The relationship is dynamic, not only because of the enhanced education and research capabilities, but because it is the first union of an urban Level I university-based center and a suburban Level II community-based facility in Pennsylvania," Rotondo said. Patients would benefit by having access to expertise from both institutions, Rotondo added.