Trauma Care

Trauma & Injury Care

For all traumatic injuries, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Minutes and seconds count when a major injury or accident occurs or when you or your loved ones face a life-threatening situation. That’s why you can trust Oklahoma’s statewide trauma system, centered around the nationally recognized Level 1 Trauma Center at OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

Top-Level Trauma Services for Oklahoma & the Region

Holding the highest national rating a trauma center can receive as verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Committee on Trauma, Oklahoma’s only Level 1 Trauma Center at OU Health serves as a comprehensive regional hub for trauma-related care available to all people of all ages, including children – total care for every aspect of injury from prevention through rehabilitation.

Complete System for Rapid Trauma & Injury Response

When someone in Oklahoma or the surrounding region experiences a critical injury, which may include damage to several parts of the body, reaching a trauma center and getting into an operating room within an hour of the injury – the “golden hour” – greatly improves chances of survival and positive outcomes.

Oklahoma’s paramedics, ambulance services (air and ground) and hospitals – from the largest metro hospital to the smallest community hospital – all participate in the statewide system of trauma care that delivers critically ill or injured people to OU Health’s Level 1 Trauma Center as fast as possible. If needed, emergency response services will bypass closer hospitals or facilities that may not be able to provide immediate care to reach the trauma center in time.

Learn more about emergency care and stroke treatment at OU Health.

Your Expert Trauma Surgery Team

Rely on the extensive experience of OU Health’s highly skilled trauma surgery team for life-saving care. Your specially trained trauma surgeons and nurses treat all affected areas of the body – from bones, soft tissues and internal organs to the brain, face or vascular system. They quickly assess your condition, determine a treatment plan and take immediate action to save your life.

These trauma care experts participate in ongoing medical education and research. That means they stay up to date with the latest procedures and technologies for trauma care, as they also teach the next generation of healthcare professionals. That means you and your loved ones will continue to benefit from access to top-quality trauma care in Oklahoma and throughout the region.

How You Benefit from Level 1 Trauma Care

Every day, around the clock, at OU Health’s Level 1 Trauma Center, you’ll find the expertise and space to treat any serious, severe or critical injury, from car crashes and gunshot wounds to tornado injuries, farming accidents and more. You benefit from:

  • A multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, healthcare staff and specialists – inside the hospital at all times – who stand ready to treat you 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • A specially trained trauma surgeon, specialty surgeons with expertise in orthopedic, neurosurgery, hand and facial trauma and an operating room available 24/7/365 to provide the highest level of surgical care
  • Pediatric trauma services, including pediatric doctors and nurses specifically trained to treat children, as well as specialized equipment designed for young people and Child Life experts who help your child and family cope with hospitalization
  • Obstetrical services, including labor and delivery physicians and nurses specifically trained to care for pregnant women with traumatic injuries, as well as specialized equipment and operating teams to care for mother and unborn child

Located at the crossroads of Interstates 35, 40 and 44, the Level 1 Trauma Center at OU Health ensures you and your family can easily and quickly get the care you need with support from loved ones, no matter where you live in the state or region.

Trauma Survivor Support

OU Health is a member of the Trauma Survivors Network– a nationally recognized program that helps trauma survivors rebuild their lives after injury. When you choose OU Health, you'll gain access to survivorship support and resources that offer many ways to participate in your healing such as monthly support groups. Here, you can connect with others in a similar situation, access resources available to assist you in your recovery, and tell your story of resiliency, courage and hope.

As part of the Trauma Survivors Network, you'll join a community of trauma survivors and benefit from the inclusive and encouraging environment to help you feel better and cope better after injury. Your healing support includes information about your recovery process, enhancing survivorship skills and confidence to handle day-to-day challenges.

Learn more about the Trauma Survivors Network programs at OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center.

Special Trauma Center Programs

Trauma specialists at OU Health offer several programs for you and your loved ones to learn better ways to respond to special trauma situations, including:

  • ATV Safe Ride Oklahoma (pdf) – Hands-on class for all family members who ride ATVs to increase awareness of ATV safety guidelines, help families set up safe-riding practices and help decrease injuries and fatalities from ATV use
  • Concussion Education – Free training program to help identify signs of concussion (a traumatic brain injury resulting from a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a it to the body), learn “return to play” guidelines and discuss sport-related traumatic brain injury with medical specialists
  • Stop the Bleed Training – Free course to learn bleeding control techniques, including tourniquets and pressure, that can save a life after traumatic injury, such as a laceration or penetrating wound

Register for classes through the OU Health Events Calendar.

Trauma or Emergency?

Hospital emergency departments deliver prompt care for illness, minor injuries or other immediate health problems, but not all offer the specially trained staff, advanced technology, 24/7 access or other requirements needed to provide the life-saving high level of trauma and injury care found at a verified Level 1 Trauma Center.

When you need emergency care, choose OU Health’s emergency departments in Oklahoma City, including University of Oklahoma Medical Center and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, as well as the emergency department at Edmond Medical Center – where you’ll appreciate the distinctive trauma and emergency support for people age 65 and older – or seek out OU Health’s emergency medicine specialists at hospitals in Tulsa.

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