Level I Trauma Center
In a constant state of readiness
When an adult suffers a traumatic injury, the Trauma Center at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin is ready to respond 24 hours a day. The Trauma Center combines the latest technology with exceptional staff to provide the highest level of care to trauma patients in the region.
It is the only adult Level I Trauma Center in eastern Wisconsin. Severely injured patients from as far away as Marinette and Clark counties in Wisconsin to McHenry and Cook counties in Illinois are brought to the Trauma Center for life-saving care. In 2007, 3,118 people received care in the Trauma Center.
What is Trauma?Trauma is any serious injury caused by an external force, such as a motor vehicle crash, falls, violence, sports- or recreational-related injuries and job-related injuries. Trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans under age 45 and the No. 1 cause of disability for all age groups.
What Does “Level I” Mean?The Trauma Center is classified as “Level I,” which means it provides the highest level of specialty expertise and meets strict national standards. Specialized teams, facilities and equipment are available around the clock, 365 days a year, to treat life-threatening injuries.
A trauma center is not the same as a hospital emergency department; emergency services are only part of a comprehensive trauma program. A Level I facility must have the capability of providing total care for every aspect of injury, from injury prevention to rehabilitation.
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- Have prompt availability of specialists in trauma surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, surgical critical care, rehabilitation medicine and emergency medicine to adequately respond to and care for the various forms of trauma. In addition, specialists in anesthesiology, radiology, plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery and internal medicine also need to be readily available.
- Have an operating room dedicated solely to trauma patients.
- Provide injury prevention programs in the community.
- Provide professional education for physicians, nurses, emergency medical services personnel and physician liaisons.
- Conduct resident training in general surgery, orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery.
- Conduct research — a commitment to research is primarily what separates Level I trauma centers from Level II trauma centers. At Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, a strong relationship between Medical College of Wisconsin researchers and care providers keeps the Trauma Center on the leading edge of the latest advances in trauma care.
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Froedtert Hospital's "Forever Changed" program adds hard-hitting realism to send the message about the dangers of drinking and driving. Read the news article. |
Level I trauma centers in most states, including Wisconsin, are designated by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for three-year periods. Lower levels of trauma care are provided by trauma centers that have Level II, Level III and Level IV designations.
Trauma Center StatisticsThe number of injured patients evaluated at the Trauma Center has continued to increase in recent years.
- In 2007, 3,118 patients were evaluated, compared to 2,898 patients in 2006 and 2,631 patients in 2005.
- Motor vehicle crashes accounted for the largest percentage of trauma injuries in 2007 (33 percent), followed by falls (25 percent) and firearms/stab wounds (16 percent).
- In 2007, about 40 percent of our trauma patients went home directly from the Trauma Center.
- In 2007, the Trauma Center’s survival rate of 94 percent was the same as the national threshold of 94 percent.
Regional System of CareThe Trauma Center is the hub of a complete system of care serving the entire region. Before a patient arrives at the Trauma Center, many other professionals are involved, including:
- Skilled 911 dispatchers
- Firefighters and police officers, who are often the first to respond at the scene of an injury
- Paramedics, who perform life-saving care and transport patients to the Trauma Center
- Flight For Life, staffed with flight nurses and flight paramedics or physicians for rapid transport of patients to the Trauma Center from an injury scene or transfer from another hospital.
The Trauma Center is a member of regional and state organizations dedicated to coordinating trauma care and preventing injuries, including the South East Regional Trauma Advisory Council (SERTAC). In addition, Medical College of Wisconsin faculty members hold positions on the state Trauma Advisory Committee, the state EMS Physician Advisory Committee for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and serve as the current State Trauma System Medical Director.
Last Review Date: March 12, 2009 Online Editor(s): Christopher Sadler |
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