RICHMOND, Va. -- For generations, if you were the victim of a life-threatening, traumatic injury in central Virginia, rescuers pretty much had one destination for you: The VCU Medical Center, formerly the Medical College of Virginia (MCV).
Medflight, helicopter, or trauma transport? You were flying to VCU, the area's only Level I trauma center.
But now, you (if you're conscious) and your rescuers have a choice.
After years of planning, preparation, training, and expense, Chipppenham Hospital was elevated to a Level II trauma center at the first of the year.
That means they can handle traumatic injuries from car crashes, shootings, stabbings, falls, and industrial and recreational accidents.
The hospital can handle everything but serious burns, pediatric trauma, and injuries rwequiring limb or digit replacement. And yes, they have a helipad.
As Rob Lawrence with Richmond Ambulance Authority said, every second counts when there's a traumatic injury.
No longer will victims on the south side of the river or on the other side of town have to go the extra miles to VCU Medical Center, which can add long miles and minutes to the transport, especially when it's rush hour or a similar traffic slowdown.
And in a mass causality situation -- a terror attack or big crash -- there's a whole new platform for treatment.
Chippenham Hospital officials allowed me and two other photographers to spend two evenings and nights at their updated trauma center.
Watch our video report to see it in operation, and how they got there.
