US Hospital Trauma Care

Hospitals that have trauma facilities are divided into four tiers, and it may be very important for you to know the differences.

The typology shown below appeared in an article from Kaiser today. With a very serious heart attack or stroke, a reaction time of more than 15 minutes could be a problem. Of course, not having a local center is worse. Standalone emergency care facilities don’t count. They just don’t have the resources?

So where is the nearest Level 1 or Level 2 facility to you?

What Trauma Center Levels Mean

Level	Description
Level I	• Manages the most complex trauma cases • Treats at least 1,200 trauma patients a year • Trauma team ready in 15 minutes • Full spectrum of surgical specialists • 24-hour lab and anesthesiology • Trauma research program
Level II	• Trauma team ready in 15 minutes • Same surgical specialists as for Level I • 24-hour lab and anesthesiology
Level III	• Trauma team ready in 30 minutes • Continuous general surgery coverage • 24-hour lab and anesthesiology
Level IV	• Trauma team ready in 30 minutes • 24-hour coverage by emergency doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner • 24-hour lab

Sources:

1. https://khn.org/news/article/hospital-trauma-centers-charge-enormous-fees-to-treat-minor-injuries-and-send-people-home/