UP Health System – Marquette receives Level II trauma reverification

The Upper Peninsula’s only Level II trauma center, verified by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma

MARQUETTE, Mich. (May 18, 2026) — UP Health System – Marquette has been reverified as a Level II trauma center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT), continuing 20 years of serving as a Level II trauma center. It remains the only ACS COT-verified Level II trauma center in the Upper Peninsula.

Verification by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma is time-limited and requires ongoing review to maintain. As part of that process, trauma centers undergo a detailed evaluation of their staffing, resources, patient care practices and performance improvement efforts to confirm they continue to meet national standards. 

“Verification by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma affirms our team’s dedication to providing high-quality trauma care for patients in the Upper Peninsula,” said Tonya Darner, market CEO of UP Health System – Marquette and UP Health System – Bell. “For 20 years, we’ve been here for our community during its most critical moments, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering timely, coordinated care when it matters most.”

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) verifies trauma centers at four levels based on the care, resources and services they provide, with each level reflecting specific clinical capabilities. Level I trauma centers are typically larger institutions and must meet requirements for research and a minimum annual patient volume. Level II trauma centers provide many of the same clinical services as Level I centers but do not have the same research or volume requirements. These distinctions help ensure patients have access to appropriate levels of care while supporting education and the ongoing development of highly qualified trauma providers.

The ACS Trauma Verification, Review and Consultation (VRC) Program helps hospitals evaluate and improve trauma care. It provides an objective, external review of a trauma center’s resources and performance. A team of trauma experts completes a site review of the hospital and assesses components of the program, including its regional role, the availability of physical and human resources, policies, patient care protocols and quality improvement processes. Patients treated at ACS COT-verified trauma centers have a lower risk of death and improved quality of life compared with those treated at nonverified centers.

As an ACS-verified trauma center, UP Health System – Marquette is also an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. This designation reflects a hospital’s dedication to continuously improving procedures and processes while maintaining a strong focus on quality at every step. It signals to patients that the hospital adheres to rigorous standards in surgical care and is committed to ongoing improvement.

"ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience, and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, UP Health System – Marquette has shown a commitment to providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating itself to continuous self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS.