The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF) has announced the temporary suspension of Fulton County Medical Center’s (FCMC) Level IV Trauma Center Accreditation. The change is scheduled to take effect on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
The decision, made by the independent accrediting body responsible for overseeing trauma care across the Commonwealth, stems from a “scheduled deviation from the Standards of Accreditation.” While the PTSF press release did not specify the exact nature of the deviation, such suspensions typically relate to a hospital’s inability to consistently meet the strict staffing, resource, or procedural requirements mandated for its designated trauma level.
The loss of its Level IV accreditation means FCMC, located in the rural South Central Mountain Region, will no longer be recognized as a dedicated trauma center by the state system.
Level IV Trauma Centers are designed to provide initial evaluation, stabilization, and immediate diagnostic and surgical interventions for injured patients before transferring them to higher-level centers, particularly in rural areas. They also admit patients with mild injuries.
Though FCMC will still operate an emergency department, it must now cease holding itself out as an accredited trauma center.
This change may necessitate longer transport times for severely injured patients who would have previously been stabilized at FCMC before being moved to a higher-level facility. The closest Level I Trauma Center is reportedly 72 miles away.
The PTSF is responsible for the accreditation and oversight of trauma centers throughout Pennsylvania. Please visit www.PTSF.org for additional information.
