What is the difference between trauma centers

A Severe Brain Injury. Any brain injuries that could have lasting after-effects are something better equipped for a trauma center. Traumatic Car Crash Injuries. If you wind up with more severe injuries, this is when a trauma center will take over. For starters, all trauma centers are required to be accredited by an independent organization.

Trauma centers are also acknowledged by levels, and there are five in the United States. The levels are ranked by the care provided, teaching capabilities, and more. LeveI I is the highest of levels and is a trauma center that often provides total care, from the prevention stage to rehabilitation.

There are also opportunities for medical residents to participate in a teaching program and ongoing research. A Level IV can provide trauma care, but often patients might have to be transferred to a higher-level center for rehabilitation.

Each level reflects what exactly is offered at each hospital, and the slight difference can be all it takes to set you a level apart. So What are some of the main differences between each level? Level I : Provides total care for all aspects of an injury along with public education.

Trauma centers are typically located within hospitals, often in the emergency department. Emergency rooms provide care to people suffering 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, on the other hand, are for patients with the most extreme injuries. They are always prepared to treat patients. 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.

Pennsylvania only recognizes Levels I through IV, for example. All trauma centers must be accredited officially recognized by an independent organization. This accreditation varies by state. Level 4 trauma centers are usually located in more rural areas. They have resources to provide advanced trauma life support ATLS before transferring patients to a higher level trauma center.

ATLS is a training program for medical providers that teaches them how to manage those dealing with acute trauma. It enables level 4 trauma centers to evaluate, stabilize, and diagnose injured people. Elements of level 4 trauma centers include :. Level 5 refers to the most basic type of trauma center. As with level 4 trauma centers, level 5 trauma centers can provide ATLS and evaluate, stabilize, and diagnose people with injuries.

The features of a level 5 trauma center usually include :. A pediatric trauma center is a facility that specializes in treating injured children. It must meet all the criteria of an adult center but also have the following :. A study analyzed injured children who attended either a pediatric trauma center, a general trauma center, or a nontrauma center. Children who received treatment in pediatric trauma centers were more likely to survive their injuries than those who attended the other facilities.

Although some states adopt a three-tier scale of trauma levels, others acknowledge five different levels of trauma centers. Level 1 and 2 trauma centers usually provide more comprehensive care than the lower levels. However, the lower level centers are still able to evaluate and stabilize people, allowing staff to transfer them to higher level centers if necessary. A person can experience trauma after any situation that they find distressing or threatening.

Trauma centers treat extreme cases where immediate survival is a problem. Highly specialized surgeons in treating traumatic injuries work there and use sophisticated equipment to increase the likelihood of survival in the patient sent there. Often, after evaluating the incident, the doctors will decide where to take the injured person. However, patients can choose the hospital they want.

Choosing a Stage I trauma center, like Sunshine Hospital, can make the difference between life and death. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Gachibowli : Secunderabad :