Trauma Centers At-a-Glance

There are 21 hospitals in Florida that are trauma centers. They deliver the highest level of expertise and care 24/7, with capabilities that far exceed a non-trauma center hospital. They treat patients who require urgent, lifesaving care. Getting a patient to definitive care within the first hour of injury, or golden hour, drastically increases their chances of survival. Speed and quality of treatment are key to the effectiveness of trauma center hospitals. Trauma mortality is reduced by 15-20% when a very seriously injured patient is treated at a trauma center versus non-trauma center hospital.

The state of Florida defines a Trauma Center as a facility within a general medical hospital determined by the Florida Department of Health to be in compliance with trauma center verification standards. Chapter 395, Florida Statutes. These centers treat individuals who have incurred blunt or penetrating injuries or burns, and who require immediate medical intervention/treatment. These individuals require urgent, lifesaving care. Trauma centers are ready at a moment's notice and have designated operating suites reserved to treat patients at all times.

Emergency rooms are not trauma centers. A trauma center has highly trained specialists, in-house or immediate available 24 hours, 7-days-a-week. Trauma centers have access to air emergency whose only job is to be available for the moment a serious accident occurs. Trauma centers provide the highest level of care and expertise, with the most cutting edge technology and resources available for treatment.