Update Sept. 22:

Seton Medical Center Hays released a statement Sept. 21 to "clarify" that it is "in the process of advancing its trauma certification to Level II and now operates as an advanced trauma center, capable of Level II trauma care." The Sept. 10 release stated that SMCH "now operates as a Level II Trauma Center with the ability to provide comprehensive care for all injured patients." The headline and below post have been updated to reflect the clarification.

Sept. 10:

Seton Medical Center Hays, located on Kyle Parkway in Kyle, announced Monday that it is now capable of Level II trauma care. 

“SMCH has evolved from a community hospital to a regional medical center for complex trauma care,” Dr. Oscar Rios, the trauma medical director, said in a written statement. “Our Level II trauma capabilities allow us to provide the highest level of emergency and trauma expertise that can mean the difference between life and death.”

To earn the Level II designation, the hospital must take a number of initiatives, including establishing a team of in-house trauma surgeons as well as speciality trauma surgeons who are available at all times, a dedicated trauma team, an intensive care unit with trauma beds and a partnership with Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, which is the only Level I trauma center in Central Texas.

Seton Medical Center Hays has expanded its care rapidly over the last several years. In June 2017, SMCH became a Level III trauma center, which meant it could treat patients with life-threatening conditions, and in December the facility completed a 30-bed surgical unit on the fifth and final floor of the facility.

More recently, SMCH officials said they would be adding a $14.1 million expansion of its women’s health services as well as hiring a third neurosurgeon.

Ascension Texas, which operates SMCH, also recently broke ground on a new medical center in Buda.