A trauma center is a specialty hospital unit that is equipped and staffed to handle critical and life-threatening injuries, such as gunshot wounds and car crash injuries.
Trauma centers are designated by different levels. The levels, number one to four, indicate the hospital’s resources, surgical capabilities and available specialists.
A Level I trauma center is the most advanced and capable trauma center. They can provide all essential services in-house all the time and must always be staffed with a general or trauma surgeon.
According to the Trauma Center Association of America, those essential services include: 24-hour pre and post anesthesia services, an operating room available within 15 minutes, radiology, ICU team coverage, a full spectrum of surgical specialists, medical consultants, support services, 24-hour laboratory services and an adequate blood supply, medical social workers available 24 hours and advanced practitioners.
A Level I center must also have 24/7 cardiothoracic surgery abilities and the center must be led by an ICU physician specializing in surgical critical care.
A Level II trauma center provides some essential services all hours and must have a general or trauma surgeon available within 30 minutes.
A Level III trauma center provides prompt assessment,resuscitation, emergency operations, stabilization and can arrange for transfer to a Level I or II center if that type of trauma care is needed, according to the Trauma Center Association of America. These centers also have continuous general surgery coverage. A surgeon must also be present in the emergency department when the patient arrives.
A Level IV trauma center is able to provide an initial evaluation and assessment of an injured patient and then be able to transfer that patient to a more advanced facility, according to the Trauma Center Association of America. That center must also have 24-hour emergency coverage by a physician and be continuously available for resuscitation.