a Trauma Center may be a Level I Adult facility and also a Level II Pediatric Facility). It is not uncommon for facilities to have different designations for each group (ie. Facilities are designated/verified as Adult and/or Pediatric Trauma Centers. Outlined below are common criteria for Trauma Centers verified by the ACS and also designated by states and municipalities. Use of Brain Trauma Foundation’s Guidelines for topics such as adult and pediatric head injury, prehospital management, surgical management, penetrating injury, and acute spine and spinal cord injury is strongly recommended for all trauma centers.Īs mentioned above, Trauma categories vary from state to state.
Part of the verification process includes requiring all members of the trauma team to be knowledgeable about current practices in neurotrauma care and the best evidence for the care of the neurotrauma patient, including head, spine/spinal cord, and peripheral nerve injury. This is a voluntary process by the Trauma Center and lasts for a 3-year period. The ACS does not designate trauma centers but verifies the presence of the resources listed in Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient. Trauma Center Verification is an evaluation process done by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) to evaluate and improve trauma care. Pediatric trauma surgery is its own speciality and adult trauma surgeons are not generally specialized in providing surgical trauma care to children, and vice versa. For example, a Level 1 adult trauma center may also be a Level II pediatric trauma center. If a hospital provides trauma care for both adult and pediatric patients, the Level designation may not be the same for each group. These categories may vary from state to state.Ī facility can be designated an adult trauma center, a pediatric trauma center, or an adult & pediatric trauma center. The state or local municipality identifies unique criteria in which to categorize Trauma Centers. Trauma Center designation is a process outlined and developed at a state or local level. Being at a Level 1 trauma center provides the highest level of surgical care for trauma patients. Level I, II, III, IV or V) refer to the kinds of resources available within a trauma center and the number of patients admitted yearly. Level III and IV trauma centers generally provide initial stabilization of trauma patients with the greatest difference being surgical capabilities at the Level III facilities.Trauma centers across the United States are identified by a designation process and a verification process. Level Is require some additional pediatric specialties and are research and teaching facilities. Level I and II Pediatric Trauma Centers focus specifically on pediatric trauma patients. Level I and II Trauma Centers have similar personnel, services, and resource requirements with the greatest difference being that Level Is are research and teaching facilities. It is recommended that readers consult the specific requirements for each Trauma Center designation level included in Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 7 – Trauma Care Systems which can be accessed at: regs7.pdf TRAUMA CENTER LEVELS It is intended only as a basic overview and is not inclusive of all requirements. The Trauma Center level information below is provided as a quick reference. Trauma Center designations include levels I – IV and Level I and II Pediatric (pediatric specific facilities). Performance Improvement and Patient Safety Program.A trauma program medical director and a trauma nurse coordinator.
General requirements for all trauma centers include: All trauma centers are licensed hospitals, designated by a local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA) as a Trauma Center, and include personnel, services, and equipment necessary for the care of trauma patients.