UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh serves as a Level I pediatric trauma center. UPMC Mercy and UPMC Presbyterian are both Level I trauma centers, while UPMC Hamot, U PMC Altoona, and UPMC Williamsport are Level II. The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation has overseen the accreditation of hospitals in the state since 1986. Severe vomiting, stomach pains, and/or diarrhea.Īll trauma centers must be accredited (officially recognized) by an independent organization.In the most serious circumstances, paramedics must evaluate a patient’s condition and decide where they go for care. They are always prepared to treat patients. They staff the center 24/7 and have access to such resources as an operating room, resuscitation area, laboratory, and diagnostic testing equipment. At trauma centers, you’ll find highly trained clinicians who specialize in treating traumatic injuries, including: Trauma centers, on the other hand, are for patients with the most extreme injuries. Emergency rooms provide care to people with injuries ranging from a sprained ankle to a heart attack - and they are staffed with doctors, nurses, and medical experts who handle a variety of conditions. Trauma centers are typically located within hospitals, often in the emergency department. The Difference Between Trauma Centers and Emergency Rooms They also prepare patients for transfer to higher levels of care.

These centers, which are not recognized in Pennsylvania, provide initial evaluation, stabilization, and diagnostic capabilities.

These centers provide evaluation, stabilization, and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients including trauma care and life support before they are transferred to a larger, higher-level trauma center. They generally provide 24-hour coverage by emergency medicine physicians and the prompt availability of general surgeons and anesthesiologists. These centers are smaller than Level I and II centers but can provide prompt care to injured patients. Both Levels I and II can treat both children and adults. They offer 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons, as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care. These centers are similar to Level I trauma centers but don’t necessarily offer teaching or research. They also offer a teaching program for medical residents, as well as ongoing research. They offer 24-hour, in-house coverage by general surgeons, and prompt availability of care in specialties such as orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial, pediatric and critical care. These centers provide total care, from prevention through rehabilitation. The American Trauma Society verifies the common criteria for each level. Pennsylvania only recognizes Levels I through IV, for example. There are five different levels of trauma centers in the United States, but they can vary from state to state, and not every state recognizes all five levels. So, it’s important to understand what these facilities offer. Trauma centers offer more extensive care than emergency departments, and the difference between a trauma center and emergency room can be life and death. These are the types of injuries that are seen in a trauma center. Think of the most high-risk injuries: gunshot wounds, serious car crash injuries, and major burns. What Is a Trauma Center?Ī trauma center is an area of a hospital that’s equipped to treat people who are severely hurt. Here’s a guide to understanding trauma center levels and what each level provides. If you experience a physical trauma, you’ll receive treatment through a hospital’s emergency department - but not all emergency departments are created equal. In addition to providing emergency care, some hospitals also function as trauma centers, and they’re staffed by specially trained health professionals who treat life-threatening injuries.

Trauma center levels review