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Vanderbilt Wilson outlines trauma‑center growth, announces local cancer infusion chairs and Feb. 3 ribbon cutting
Summary
Vanderbilt Wilson Hospital described growth in its Level‑3 trauma registry, improvements in length of stay and partnership with EMS; the hospital announced a Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center infusion site opening Feb. 3 at 1616 West Main.
Hospital leaders from Vanderbilt Wilson provided the commission an update on the hospital’s trauma program and announced a local infusion center that will open early next month.
Dr. Andrew Hopper, trauma medical director and chief of staff at Vanderbilt Wilson Hospital, said the hospital became a provisional trauma center in 2022 and was designated a Level‑3 trauma center in September 2023. Level‑3 centers provide definitive trauma care for many injuries but transfer cases needing neurosurgical or spine specialties to higher‑level centers, Hopper explained.
Hopper reviewed trauma workload and outcomes: trauma registry cases rose from about 463 in 2022 to 776 in 2023 and to 905 in 2024; he said he expects 2025 to exceed 1,000 trauma registry entries. He reported that roughly 73% of trauma patients arrive by EMS (mostly ground transport), about 92% are blunt‑trauma cases (falls and motor‑vehicle crashes), transfers downtown average 10–15 per month, and the hospital’s trauma length of stay has fallen from about six days in 2022 to roughly four days more recently. Hopper said 98% of trauma patients in their registry were alive at discharge.
Hopper described a recent case of a shotgun injury treated with chest‑tube placement and credited local EMS and hospital staff for rapid coordination during the “golden hour.” He also emphasized community outreach efforts such as Stop the Bleed training and talks to local groups.
Dr. Jakush, chief medical officer, told the commission Vanderbilt Wilson has expanded specialty clinics — cardiology, neurology, nephrology, hepatology, orthopedics and vascular surgery — and invited commissioners to a Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center ribbon cutting scheduled for Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. at 1616 West Main. The new cancer center will include eight infusion chairs for chemotherapy and related outpatient care, Dr. Jakush said.
Commissioners thanked hospital leaders for the presentation and asked no follow‑up questions during the meeting.
