What began as a vision to bring advanced trauma care closer to home has grown into one of the region’s leading emergency facilities. This fall, Reading Hospital is celebrating the 20th anniversary of our Level I Trauma Center — the first and only of its kind in Berks County.
When our trauma center opened in 2005 with a Level II accreditation by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, it marked the beginning of a new era in emergency care for Berks County. We were able to ensure that everyone in our community had access to lifesaving care when seconds matter most.
As the needs of our community have grown, so did we. Reading Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) is among the largest and busiest in Pennsylvania, treating far more than 100,000 patients annually.
To meet this demand, we worked to expand our capabilities to provide lifesaving care no matter the time or circumstance. In 2016, we constructed the Reading Hospital HealthPlex for Advanced Surgical and Patient Care to bring all of our surgical services into one centralized, advanced center.
This five-story, 476,000-square-foot facility features an expanded emergency department, five trauma bays that can expand to nine, a helipad, hybrid operating rooms and modern recovery spaces.
With these upgrades, the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation redesignated our facility as a Level I Trauma Center in 2018, making us the first and only in the region to do so. This designation, which we still uphold, means that Reading Hospital meets the highest standards of trauma care.
As many may know, this hospital has been like my second home since my very first days as an emergency medicine physician. I have seen firsthand how our teams continue to show up and collaborate in the face of humanity’s most critical moments — and that’s what makes this anniversary so special.
The true heartbeat of our trauma center goes beyond our medical equipment or advanced facilities. From nurses to surgeons, it’s our people who use their skill and compassion to make a difference in every room, on every floor at Reading Hospital.
We are very fortunate to have Dr. Eugene Reilly as our Chief of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care. Each day, he sets the standard for how trauma should be delivered, and our Level I Trauma Center is stronger because of it.
“Our trauma center is a tremendous resource for our community,” Reilly said. “It raises the standard of care for the greater Reading area and all of Berks County. For people in this community, the trauma center brings world-class, lifesaving care that is close to home. The clinical and technological expertise present in the center is something the entire region can be extremely proud of, and it is my great privilege to be able to work here.”
Reading Hospital is a space for healing and a community cornerstone where every patient is treated like a neighbor, not a number. No matter what, our teams are here for you and ready to provide around-the-clock care when you need it most.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for entrusting us with the precious gift of caring for you and your loved ones. And to our beloved Reading Hospital team members, thank you for continuing to show up and save lives each and every day. Your compassion, clinical precision and expertise continues to set a new standard for care, and for that I am ever grateful.
For more information about Reading Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center, visit towerhealth.org.
Dr. Charles F. Barbera is president and CEO of Reading Hospital.