Care For PA

You never know when it will happen. One minute you're fine, the next, you're faced with a life-threatening injury. It's true that Pennsylvania's general hospitals provide some of the best care in the world, but there are times when the specialized care that an accredited trauma center can provide is a patient's best chance at survival. That's why, for the past 20 years, Pennsylvania is proud to have maintained a coordinated system of accredited trauma care to serve its 12 million residents.

Pennsylvania's 26 accredited trauma centers are among some 600 across the nation that guarantee the immediate availability and dedication of specialized trauma teams 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In an emergency situation, paramedics transport injury victims who meet certain conditions to a waiting trauma team at an accredited trauma center. These teams are composed of a trauma surgeon, emergency physician, several trauma nurses, personnel from radiology, blood bank, and others. Up to 16 physicians in specialties ranging from neurosurgery to OB/GYN are on standby, and nursing teams are ready in the operating room and critical care unit as well.

The trauma team's care extends through the emergency treatment to hospital care, rehabilitation, and home care. Along the way, specially trained doctors, nurses, physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, speech therapists, and many more work together to meet the recovery needs of each patient. It's this interweaving of services that allows people to regain useful lives.

Pennsylvania's trauma centers are also among the best in their communities in providing information on important safety issues. From safety tips for the elderly to prevent falling in their homes, to school violence programs, trauma centers spend many hours educating and informing community members about important health and safety topics.

Thanks to Pennsylvania's accredited trauma centers, many thousands of lives have been saved and will be saved. That's what trauma centers are all about. Fighting for life.

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