Question about trama levels

mommatrauma, RN · Jun 30, 2005

There was a previous thread about it, here's the link for you....

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108359

In PA, we have Level 1, 2, and 3...with Level 1 and 2 being discussed more in depth in the link...not really too many "level 3" hospitals...pretty much every ER functions as a level 3 ER as long as they have a 24 hour radiology dept that can do xry's and CT Scans...

Princess74 · Jun 30, 2005

Thank you so much. I will go read the previous post.:)

CEN35 · Jul 17, 2005

There are 4 levels. I don't remember what they all are, but here's a brief.

Level I - Is a facility with 24 hr a day in house cardiothoracic surgeon available. Any other specialty surgeon available within 30 minutes. All types of radiology equipment, and techs available. They require TNCC by the nurses, and ATLS to the medical staff involved. ***They are required to do X-number of research articles and publications per year, therefor they are usually a teaching facility with residents.

Level II - All of the above, except the research, so many are non-teaching (i.e. non-resident hospitals). Which is what ours is, and is actually better for learning, because you get involved. Instead of pushed out of the way for residents to do stuff.

level III - Must have most of these things available, but are not capable of everything that's needed.

level IV - Urgent care????????

At one point Ohio decided they were going to make a law, requiring all traums to be transfered to a "Trauma Center". So many places were in the proccess of getting level 3 or 4 certification. Which defeats the purpose, so Ohio dumped the potential bill.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2005

And traumas are so much fun to take care of. I love the challenge of a good trauma.