Differences in levels

The requirements for Trauma Levels vary a bit from state to state,.google your state to find out details,..generally speaking Level I is the "highest" level of care then II, then III,..in my state the significant difference in Level I and II, is that Level I Trauma centers must participate in and publish research, which is very expensive, unless you're already a major teaching hospital. The other "obstacle" is need,.it makes no sense to have a trauma surgeon available 24/7 if he/she is only needed once a month (and I personally would prefer MY trauma Dr to have way more experience than that!). Hope this helps!!

I was wondering if someone can tell me what the trauma levels mean in regards to hospitals i.e level 1-iv trauma hosp.

Thanks

In a nutshell... Level I and level II centers have SURGEONS (trauma surgeons, etc.) available 24/7, 365 days a year. Level I centers have all the facilities/capacities to treat a patient from entry (say ER) all the way through to rehab and discharge.

Thats the reason big centers are usually the level 1's and 2's because they can afford it...and, because they're also usually teaching centers they have an abundance of doctors available (though the majority are young docs making their bones).

Our ER is a Level 2 - which means we can have a trauma surgeon assessing the patient within 20 minutes of receiving the ambulance call. (Level 1 the surgeon has to be in house at all times). The problem with our hospital though is we can stabilize, but not always completely treat. We do not have an orthopedic surgeon that would do pelvic fractures. We do have a neurosurgeon, but do to insurance and other reasons, he won't touch anyone under the age of 18. That is the general gist of Level 1 vs Level 2. But, if someone is that critically injured - getting them to a trauma center is the most important thing. Yes, if it is the same distance between the accident site to a Level 1 vs a Level 2, you'd be better off going to the Level 1, but the level 2's can always stabilize and ship out to the level 1 for the additional needed care.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Yes, they have to have certain types of docs on call 24/7 and be equipped for certain cases. When my ex was in his car wreck, he was not at a trauma hosp, but had to be life flight transferred to one- it was the only hosp. in NH that had a vascular surgery team on call. Boston would have been the other choice.

Life flight cost forwhat would have been a 45 min - 1 hour tops car ride= $17,000!!!!