VetCot Certified Facilities
 

The VetCOT designates 3 levels (I through III) of Veterinary Trauma Centers for verification. Hospitals must hold VECCS Facility Certification, and meet the requirements for additional specialty staffing, internal performance improvement programs, education and collaboration with other VTC.  A detailed description of the different levels is provided at https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/vetcot/ under Guidelines.  In summary:

A Level III VTC is a facility that is primarily involved in the stabilization of severely traumatized patients and management of less severely injured trauma patients. It is not required to be open 24 hours a day or to have veterinarians with specialist qualifications on staff.

A Level II VTC is an acute care facility that has specialists in emergency and critical care, surgery and internal medicine on staff, and a radiologist available for consultation. Level II VTC’s have the responsibility of contributing to research, and are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

A Level I VTC has the ability to provide total care for every aspect of the management of the small animal trauma patient from emergency stabilization through definitive medical and surgical care and rehabilitation.  Specialists in the field of emergency and critical care, surgery and radiology are on staff and available for consultation 7 days a week, with specialists in anesthesiology, neurology, internal medicine, cardiology, ophthalmology on staff and available during standard business hours.  Level I VTC’s have the responsibility of providing leadership in education, training veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and contributing to research. They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.