Trauma Center Designation

Overview

The Statewide Trauma System is a network of definitive care facilities that provides a spectrum of care for all injured patients. An ideal trauma system would include all the components identified with optimal trauma care, such as prevention, education, communication, access, definitive care, rehabilitation, and research activities. Essential to the development of a trauma care system is the designation of definitive trauma care facilities.

The goal is to create an integrated trauma care system that includes health care providers and facilities throughout the state and to match each patient's needs to the resources of the facilities, from activation of the Emergency Medical Services system until their return home.

The Designation Process

To begin the designation process, please contact Sherri Wren, Trauma Program Manager EMS/Trauma Program, Lincoln Phone: (402) 471-0539 (800) 422-3460, #2-8 E-mail: sherri.wren@nebraska.gov for assistance.

State of Nebraska Trauma Program website

How to Prepare

Guide to State Visits

Levels of State Trauma Center Designation

The role of the basic trauma center is to stabilize, prepare and transfer all patients with potentially life threatening injuries. These facilities are hospitals or medical clinics based in rural areas. They should have trauma-trained physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners available within 30-minutes, and basic equipment for resuscitation and stabilization. The hospitals involved at the basic trauma level may also provide some limited surgical intervention based upon expertise or available on-site staff. The hospital will provide in-house trauma trained nurses, and physicians or physician surrogate within 30-minutes, and will have personnel available for patient stabilization, as well as appropriate equipment and diagnostic capabilities. At a minimum, a trauma team includes an emergency physician or qualified physician surrogate and a trauma trained nurse.

The role of the General Trauma Center is to provide initial evaluation and stabilization (surgical if appropriate), to provide general medical and surgical inpatient service to those patients who can be maintained in a stable or improving condition without specialized care. They also need to prepare and transfer patients meeting predetermined criteria to Comprehensive or Advanced Centers.