Trauma

What is trauma care?

Trauma care is emergency treatment for injuries that may threaten life or limb.

This can include injuries from car crashes, falls, burns, violence, head injuries, spinal cord injuries and other serious accidents.

Trauma centers are specially equipped with emergency teams, surgeons, critical care support and rapid response systems to treat these injuries when every second matters.

When should you seek trauma care?

Trauma care may be needed after:

• A serious car or motorcycle crash
• A major fall
• A gunshot or stab wound
• A severe burn
• A traumatic brain injury
• A spinal cord injury
• Another sudden, life-threatening injury

If you believe someone has a life-threatening injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Understanding trauma center levels

Trauma centers are organized by levels based on the specialists, equipment and services available to care for injured patients. In general, the higher the level, the broader the trauma program’s capabilities and responsibilities.

No matter the level, each trauma center plays an important role in providing timely, skilled care and helping patients receive the support their injury requires.

Why trauma systems matter

When a serious injury happens, every second matters. Trauma systems help patients get to the right level of care as quickly as possible, whether that means treatment at the hospital where they arrive or transfer to another trauma center for more advanced support.

This coordinated approach helps make sure patients receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time.

Trauma centers

Level I trauma centers

A Level I trauma center offers the highest level of trauma care and is built for the most complex, life-threatening injuries.

These hospitals have the deepest trauma resources. In addition to caring for patients, they are expected to lead trauma education, support physician training and residency programs, conduct research and help improve trauma care for the future.

You’ll receive total care for every aspect of injury, from prevention through rehabilitation, while also advancing the field through research and education.

What is a complex case?

A complex case is a severe injury that may need a broader mix of specialists, more advanced surgical support or highly specialized follow-up resources.

This can include multiple major injuries at once, rare surgical needs, severe brain or spinal trauma or injuries that may need services typically concentrated at a regional teaching hospital.

In those situations, a patient may be transferred to a Level I trauma center for that next layer of specialty care.

Level II trauma center

A Level II trauma center provides comprehensive trauma care for severe injuries and focuses on delivering expert clinical care around the clock.

These centers are staffed and equipped to provide emergency treatment, surgery and critical care for many serious injuries, including internal injuries, fractures and head trauma, with transfer when a patient needs highly specialized support.

These have 24-hour emergency medicine and critical care, with immediate access to specialists such as general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology and radiology.

Unlike Level I centers, Level II centers are not required to conduct trauma research or run the same level of training and residency programs. Their primary focus is caring for injured patients who don’t have complex injuries.

Level III trauma center

Level III trauma centers help patients receive timely, skilled care when moderate injuries happen.

These centers are equipped to assess critically injured patients, quickly evaluate and stabilize many injuries and perform emergency surgeries when needed.

Examples include internal injuries, fractures and head trauma, with transfer when a patient needs highly specialized support.

They often serve rural and community settings, where early treatment and fast coordination matter. Their primary role is to treat many mild-to-moderate injuries locally, while stabilizing patients who may need to transfer to a Level I or Level II trauma center for more advanced care.

Level IV and Level V trauma centers

Level IV trauma centers are equipped to evaluate injured patients, begin resuscitation and stabilization and provide an organized trauma response while preparing for transfer when needed. In some cases, they may be able to treat certain injuries locally, depending on the resources available at that hospital. Their role is to do more on site before a transfer is required and help patients receive timely, coordinated care.

Level V trauma centers focus on identifying serious injuries early, beginning immediate stabilization and coordinating transfer to a higher level of trauma care when needed. These centers may share some of the same basic services as Level IV centers, but they generally serve as a more limited entry point into the trauma system, with fewer trauma resources available on site.

Trauma levels at a glance

Level I

• Highest level of trauma care
• Built for the most complex injuries
• Regional teaching and research hospital
• Required to lead in education, research and trauma system improvement

Level II

• Trauma care for severe injuries
• Focused on clinical treatment and recovery
• 24/7 emergency care, surgery and critical care
• May transfer very complex cases needing highly specialized resources

Level III

• Rapid assessment, stabilization and emergency treatment
• Can manage many injuries but may transfer patients needing more advanced support who have severe injuries

Level IV and Level V

• Provide evaluation and stabilization
• Arrange transfer to a higher-level trauma center when needed
• Serve as an entry point with transfer to a higher level when needed

Trauma services at CHRISTUS Health

Across CHRISTUS Health, trauma services are designed to respond quickly when injuries are severe. Depending on location, care may include:

• Rapid emergency evaluation
• Trauma surgery
• Critical care support
• Imaging and diagnostics
• Access to trauma specialists
• Coordination for transfer when advanced specialty care is needed

Find trauma care near you

When every second matters, you should not have to wonder where to go. CHRISTUS Health offers trauma and emergency services across many communities, with trauma capabilities that vary by location.

Find a CHRISTUS location near you to learn more about the trauma and emergency care available there.