Treatment You May Receive at a Trauma Center After an Accident
After a personal injury accident, such as a car crash or truck accident, you should immediately seek medical treatment. Trauma centers are a good option if you are near one. Often, when you call 911, an ambulance will take you to the nearest emergency room with a trauma center.
After you get medical treatment, you should immediately call a lawyer who can help you start a personal injury claim. The Texas Law Giant has helped hundreds of clients get the most money possible to cover the losses they incurred in an accident. Call The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers today at (866) 523-4167″>(866) 523-4167 or use our online contact form to reach out.
What Is a Trauma Center?
A trauma center is a specialized part of an emergency department within a hospital that handles serious conditions such as car accident injuries, traumatic brain injuries, serious falls, and blunt trauma.
There are four levels of trauma centers in Texas. Level I centers are comprehensive trauma facilities. Level II centers are major trauma facilities. Level III centers are advanced trauma facilities. Level IV centers offer basic trauma facilities.
If you are taken to a Level IV trauma facility, but you need more advanced treatment, then an ambulance or air ambulance may be called to take you to a higher level trauma center to give you additional treatment options.
Treatment at Level I Trauma Centers
Level I trauma centers offer the highest level of care. University Hospital in San Antonio is a Level I Trauma Center for adult care as well as pediatric trauma cases.
These centers offer optimal care delivery, evaluation, training, and research. They can provide care for every aspect of an injury, from prevention through rehabilitation. Level I facilities require significant resources from the local hospital and emergency department.
Some types of care you might receive in a Level I trauma center include:
- 24-hour coverage by a general surgeon
- Prompt availability of specialty surgeons
- Presence of orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, and other specialists
- Radiology
- Internal medicine
- Plastic surgery
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Pediatric care
- Critical care
- Programs for substance abuse screening and patient intervention
Treatment at Level II Trauma Centers
Level II centers provide definitive care for victims of trauma; however, they will transfer care to a Level I facility when necessary. South Texas Health System in McAllen, Texas is a Level II Trauma Center.
Level II centers offer the following types of treatment:
- 24-hour coverage by general surgeons
- Availability of other specialty surgeons
- Trauma prevention and continuing education
- Referral to Level I trauma center for things like cardiac surgery, hemodialysis, and microvascular surgery
Treatment at Level III Trauma Centers
Level III trauma centers have shown a demonstrated ability to provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, surgery, intensive care, and stabilization of injured patients. Treatment provided at Level II centers includes general surgery, back up care for rural and community hospitals, and referral to higher level trauma centers, when necessary.
Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is a Level III Trauma Center.
Treatment at Level IV Trauma Centers
Level IV trauma centers can offer advanced trauma life support (ATLS) prior to transfer to a higher level trauma center. In general, they do not offer surgical services on site. They do, however, have laboratory coverage, trauma nurses, and physicians.
Baptist Medical Center in San Antonio is a Level IV Trauma Center.
Contact The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers If You’ve Been Injured in an Accident
Personal injury accidents often lead to the hospital. Trauma centers can provide the best treatment in many cases. After you receive medical treatment, contact The Texas Law Giant at The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers for help with your claim. Call us today at (866) 523-4167 or use our online contact form to reach out.
