WakeMed Raleigh Campus Level I Trauma Center

WakeMed is now one of six Level 1 Trauma Centers in the state, the highest designation awarded to trauma centers. It is also the first time in 16 years that a North Carolina trauma program has made the difficult move from a Level II to a Level I.  The process for the designation began nearly two years ago with a process overview meeting from the state. Since that time, a multidisciplinary team has been working on meeting and exceeding the requirements, which resulted in a site visit from the state earlier this year.

The state cited many strengths of WakeMed’s Trauma Program in its recommendation, including strong leadership, vision, commitment and support; a robust trauma program staff including general surgeons, otolaryngologists, orthopaedists, neurosurgeons, nurses and nurse practitioners, and physician assistants among others; an excellent relationship between the trauma service and the emergency department; an outstanding disaster preparedness program; state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, including a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited rehabilitation program; trauma staff involvement in trauma system endeavors on a state and regional level; and a commendable substance abuse program with initiatives and resources devoted to screening and intervention.

The WakeMed Trauma Center is one of the busiest in North Carolina with 1,788 trauma admissions in 2005. The initial designation is for a three-year period ending May 31, 2009, at which time we will be reviewed again.  This designation will also allow WakeMed to submit at certificate of need (CON) application to establish an air ambulance service.

Press Release: WakeMed Traum Program Receives Level I Designation (click here)