Trauma- Frequently Asked Questions
What is trauma?
Trauma means injury and the injury can be:
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Minor (such as a sprained ankle)
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Major (such as a gunshot wound to the chest)
What is a trauma center?
A trauma center is a hospital that has the necessary personnel and equipment to care for critically injured patients 24 hours a day. This includes resources such as trauma surgeons, CAT scan machines, and operating rooms that can be immediately available if the patient needs them.
Where are the trauma centers in Georgia?
Pediatric Trauma Centers (Designated Under Level II Criteria) * Designated Adult Level 1 Trauma Centers with Pediatric Commitment
FACILITY
CITY
LEVEL I
Medical Center of Central Ga. Inc. *
Macon
Memorial Health Univ. Medical Center *
Savannah
Medical College of Georgia *
Augusta
Grady Memorial Hospital *
Atlanta
LEVEL II
Floyd Medical Center
Rome
North Fulton Regional Hospital
Roswell
Medical Center-Columbus
Columbus
Atlanta Medical Center
Atlanta
Hamilton Medical Center
Dalton
Gwinnett Medical Center
Lawrenceville
John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital
Thomasville
LEVEL III
LEVEL IV
Morgan Memorial Hospital
Madison
Walton Regional Medical Center
Monroe
Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta@ Egleston
Atlanta
Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta @ Scottish Rite
Atlanta
What do the different levels of Trauma Centers Mean?
A trauma center is designated a specific level (1, 2, 3 or 4) depending on the available resources to care for patients (specialty physicians, hospital staff and equipment) as well as its ability to participate in trauma research, healthcare professional education, and injury prevention. For example, a Level 1 trauma center is usually a large, urban teaching hospital that can care for all types of injuries as well as provide support to community hospitals, perform trauma research, and provide medical education. A Level 2 facility can care for the majority of trauma patients, but may have to transfer some patients with more complex injuries to a Level 1 center. Level 3 and 4 centers stabilize patients and transport them to a higher level of care if necessary.
Why does Georgia need a trauma system?
Injuries in Georgia account for one million emergency department visits, 75, 000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths annually. This is higher than the national average.
Although there are areas in Georgia that provide high quality trauma care, there are still places, especially in the more rural communities, where prompt trauma care is not immediately available. A statewide trauma system will provide readily accessible trauma care to all citizens and optimize a trauma patient's chance of survial and limit the potential of permenant disability.
For more information on state trauma system development, please contact Renee Morgan, Trauma System Manager, State Office of EMS/Trauma - 1-888-870-8672