What is trauma?
In the case of a trauma center, trauma refers to any injury to the body. The most common causes of injury that bring patients to a trauma center are falls and motor vehicle crashes. These events can cause mild, moderate, severe or life-threatening trauma in multiple areas of the body. Other common causes of injury include burns, gunshot wounds and assaults.
What is a trauma center?
A trauma center is a hospital capable of providing specialized medical services and resources to patients suffering from traumatic injuries. Appropriate treatment by specially trained staff has been shown to reduce the likelihood of death and permanent disability to injured patients. Accredited trauma centers must be continuously prepared to treat the most serious life threatening and disabling injuries. Even though trauma centers are within hospitals, they are not intended to replace the traditional hospital and its emergency department for minor injuries.
How many levels of trauma centers are there?
Trauma centers vary in their specific capabilities and are identified by Level designation. In Pennsylvania there are four levels of trauma centers.
Level I trauma centers provide multidisciplinary treatment and specialized resources for trauma patients, require trauma research, and a surgical residency program.
Level II trauma centers provide similar specialty medical services and resources, but do not require the research and residency components.
Level III trauma centers are typically smaller community hospitals that have services to care for patients with moderate injuries and rapidly stabilize and transport the severely injured trauma patient to a higher-level trauma center. Level III trauma centers do not require neurosurgical resources.
Level IV trauma centers, often smaller in size and located in a rural area, can provide initial care and stabilization of traumatic injuries while arranging transfer to a higher level of trauma care.
Hospitals treating adults can be designated Adult Level I-IV Trauma Centers. Hospitals treating children can be designated Pediatric Level I-II Trauma Centers.