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Book

EMS: Trauma Center Designation

Alison P. Southern, Daniel H. Celik  1
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Free Books & Documents
Book

EMS: Trauma Center Designation

Alison P. Southern et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

In the United States, trauma centers are assigned levels through a designation and verification process. Designation criteria vary by state, and the process is managed by state or regional authorities rather than healthcare organizations. Trauma center levels I to V reflect available resources for treating patients with traumatic injuries. A level I trauma center provides the highest level of care for severe injuries, whereas centers designated levels IV and V stabilize patients before transferring them to higher-level facilities. Designation differs between adult and pediatric trauma centers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Alison Southern declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Daniel Celik declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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