What is a trauma?
While many think of trauma as the big things – a motor vehicle crash, a gunshot wound, multiple injuries. The fact is a trauma is “any physical injury” – from a cut finger that happened in the kitchen, the skin knee from falling off your bike, to the big things mentioned above. Not all trauma requires a hospital visit or a visit to the trauma center but be sure to seek medical care if you have any questions.

What is the difference between an Emergency Department and a Trauma Center?
Most hospitals have an emergency department. A place to go if you are sick or injured for immediate care by staff trained to stabilize your condition. A trauma center is a specialized hospital that can stabilize your condition but in addition provide the advanced care required in trauma. Specialists and additional resources are available to meet all the needs of the trauma patient. A trauma center also offers resources in injury prevention, disaster preparedness, and research.

What is a Trauma System?
A trauma system is a state wide collaboration between the trauma centers and the state designating agency (in North Carolina that is the Office of Emergency Medical Services). Together they work to insure that the trauma care provided to any patient is of the top quality. This is done through a set of state rules, performance improvement programs, and dedication of those involved.