When an injured patient arrives at Waverly Health Center (WHC), providing exceptional trauma care takes more than one person or department. Behind every response is a system of people, training, protocols and preparation designed to make sure the right care happens at the right time.
That dedication has earned WHC recognition as Iowa Health and Human Services’ 2026 Level IV Trauma Center of the Year. The award honors the strength of WHC’s trauma program and the people behind it.
This includes Trauma Coordinator Megan Waddingham, who reviews every trauma case at WHC from beginning to end. She examines the care provided, identifies opportunities for improvement and determines additional training needs for staff.
“As a rural trauma center, we understand how important timely access to emergency care is for our communities,” said Waddingham. “This recognition reflects more than a single year of work. It represents an ongoing, collaborative commitment to evaluating our processes, learning from every situation and continually strengthening the care we provide. We are honored to be recognized for those efforts.”
Megan also enters each case into the trauma registry, which maintains a detailed record of trauma care at WHC. That information has an impact beyond Waverly. Trauma registry data is reported to the state, where it helps identify trends and evaluate trauma care across Iowa.
During WHC’s recent trauma verification, surveyors were particularly impressed with Waddingham’s organization and presentation of the hospital’s performance improvement cases. The achievement was especially meaningful because it was her first verification as trauma coordinator.
Supporting that work is Bailey Krull, director of quality services. Krull serves as a resource and mentor to Waddingham. She also helps ensure WHC’s trauma program remains current with state requirements.
Krull also serves as a trauma surveyor for the state of Iowa, traveling to other critical access hospitals to evaluate their trauma programs. The role allows her to bring knowledge and best practices from across the state back to WHC.
Together, their work highlights an important part of trauma care that patients may never see. Long after a patient leaves the emergency department, the team continues working to improve care for the next person who needs it.
Preparing for those moments takes practice. Every nurse on WHC’s emergency medical services team completes the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC). Staff also participate in mock trauma scenarios with local emergency medical services and fire departments. These live simulations give emergency response teams experience working together in emergency situations.
Strong physician leadership is another important part of WHC’s trauma program. During the award presentation, Sarah Eason, trauma program manager with Iowa Health and Human Services, recognized Dr. Troy Ivey, WHC chief quality officer, for his active involvement in the program.
“He is deeply engaged in the program, drives continuous education among staff and demonstrates a genuine dedication to providing the highest quality care to the injured patients of his community,” Eason said.
While presenting the Level IV Trauma Center of the Year award, Eason summarized what ultimately set WHC’s program apart:
“Waverly Health Center’s commitment to performance improvement—and, most importantly, to the people they serve—is evident in the work they do every day.”
