Trauma Center Designation

A Regional Trauma Center is a designated facility that has the medical staff and facilities to provide advanced care to trauma patients. A Regional Trauma Center also serves as a referral hospital for the Area Trauma Hospitals, Community Trauma Hospitals, and Trauma Receiving Facilities.

An Area Trauma Hospital (ATH) is a designated facility that has the facilities and surgical capabilities to provide care for the majority of injured patients. Are Trauma Hospitals may serve as a referral center for Community Trauma Hospitals and Trauma Receiving Facilities. An Area Trauma Hospital does not require a neurosurgeon on staff.

A Community Trauma Hospital (CTH) is a designated facility that typically does not have twenty-four (24) hours per day coverage of its emergency department. A CTH will typically have only one (1) surgeon on staff. With these exceptions, these facilities are similar to an Area Trauma Hospital and may serve as a referral center for Trauma Receiving Facilities.

A Trauma Receiving Facility (TRF) is a designated facility that may include a hospital with no surgical coverage, to a small rural clinic. These facilities will provide initial resuscitation and stabilization and, as needed, will transfer critically injured patients to a higher level trauma facility.