People seriously injured in car crashes on the Lodge Freeway near Greenfield, gunshot victims and others with traumatic injuries in southeastern Oakland County no longer can be taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital emergency department — Henry Ford Providence Southfield on Nine Mile Road.
That’s because the hospital — one of the former Ascension Michigan properties that became part of Henry Ford Health in a 2024 merger — has lost its status as a Level II trauma center.
It means that when a person is seriously injured, ambulances must instead be routed to other hospitals that still meet the standards for Level I or Level II trauma care — places like Corewell Health Farmington Hills Hospital or Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, both roughly 15 to 20 minutes away.
That precious time could result in poorer health outcomes for patients, and in the gravest situations, it could mean the difference between life and death.
“We share the concern that this temporary change could impact how quickly our community receives care in critical moments,” said Dr. Adnan Munkarah, president of clinical enterprise and chief physician executive for Henry Ford Health, in an Aug. 13 emailed statement to the Detroit Free Press. “We are actively pursuing an appeal, and we are confident the matter will be resolved shortly.”
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services designates the level of trauma care hospitals in the state can provide based on standards set by the American College of Surgeons. The designations range from Level I to Level IV.
Hospitals with Level I and Level II designations are considered most able to manage serious traumatic injuries and, among other things, are required to have qualified surgeons, anesthesiologists and staffed operating rooms available within 15 minutes of the arrival of a trauma patient to the hospital.
Among the requirements for Level III and Level IV trauma centers is that they must be able to provide prompt assessment of patients and stabilize them, while arranging for those with serious injuries to be transferred to hospitals that can provide higher-level trauma care.
Munkarah said Henry Ford Health was notified in mid-July that the Southfield hospital would “temporarily” be unable to accept trauma patients by ambulance “while the hospital works to address an administrative process set forth by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).”
The change, he said, is not related to quality-of-care standards and affects only ambulance activity. Rather what led to its loss of Level II trauma center status is tied to “documenting education and process improvements.”
“It’s crucial to note the trauma team at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital remains ready and able to take on any trauma case that comes through our doors,” Munkarah said. “The team’s distinguished ability to treat Level II trauma patients, including victims of gunshot wounds, car crashes, and more, has not changed.”
People with traumatic injuries who arrive at the hospital in a private vehicle still can be treated at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital, he said. Additionally, ambulances can continue to bring patients experiencing other kinds of medical emergencies, such as heart attacks and strokes, to the hospital’s emergency department.
“Our emergency department is a lifeline to our community,” he said. In 2025, it treated more than 64,000 cases in the Providence Southfield emergency department.
It is notable, however, that the hospital wasn’t downgraded to Level III or Level IV trauma center status, according to the most recent list of designations issued July 7 by MDHHS. It was excluded from the list altogether.
“Hospital leaders are currently working with the ACS, the state of Michigan and others to restore our ability to receive trauma patients via ambulance as soon as possible,” Munkarah said.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Detroit Free Press.
In an emailed statement, the American College of Surgeons said the organization does not comment on the ongoing verification status of any hospital system.
Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital loses Level II trauma status
Reporting by Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
