Advocate Condell celebrates 10 years as Level 1 trauma center

Emergency and medical superheroes came together Tuesday for a picnic lunch to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Advocate Condell Medical Center's Level 1 trauma center in Libertyville.

"Superheroes Unite!" was the theme of the celebration that included first responders, Flight for Life, representatives from Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network and hospital staff members to mark the occasion. Condell remains the first and only such designation in Lake County.

It means the hospital has the staff, equipment and facilities available 24 hours to deal with the most severe situations, from traffic accidents to gunshot wounds. Trauma refers to an injury that is life-threatening or has a high risk of being life-threatening. Advocate Lutheran General in Park Ridge is the closest Level 1 trauma center to Condell.

A Level 1 trauma center designation means the entire hospital and its operations function as a comprehensive, regional center providing a spectrum of services for a range of injuries, officials said.