Level II Trauma Center
In an emergency, we’re always ready. HSHS St. Vincent Hospital is the region's first trauma center and one of only 13 Level I or II adult or pediatric trauma centers in Wisconsin to be verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
The ACS Committee on Trauma verified the HSHS St. Vincent Regional Emergency Center as a Level II Trauma Center in December 1998. This is the highest ranking a non-university-affiliated emergency center can attain. ACS verification confirms HSHS St. Vincent Hospital provides the highest level of trauma care possible for injured patients.
Trauma centers for patients with the most extreme injuries. At HSHS St. Vincent Hospital our trauma center is located within the emergency department.
Verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma
- Survival rates are increased
- Long-term patient outcomes are improved
- Care is better coordinated
- Assessment, stabilization and interventions are done quickly and efficiently
As Level II Trauma Center, it must meet strict ACS guidelines. The ACS verifies HSHS St. Vincent Hospital can stabilize any major trauma and has the resources to direct care for the critically injured. Key elements of a Level II trauma center include 24-hour, immediate coverage by trauma and neurosurgeons, as well as coverage by specialists in orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, and critical care. In addition to these resources, St. Vincent has the region’s only board-certified orthopedic trauma surgeon.
Trauma services are available 24/7
Everything our trauma patients might need is ready and waiting for our patient's arrival. Our entire trauma team stands by ready and waiting.
- Stabilize any major trauma
- Resources to direct care for the critically injured
- Trauma and neurosurgeons available immediately
- Coverage by specialists in orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care
- Family support is immediately available
- Critical patients can be transported by ground or helicopter via EAGLE III
- Board-certified, residency-trained emergency medical physicians
- Trauma case manager coordinates all care
- In-house trauma surgical team and other specialists on call
- Regional education available upon request
To obtain more information about one of the educational programs or to schedule a session, call 920-433-8445
Community Outreach
A Level II trauma center also must be dedicated to continually improving trauma care through a comprehensive quality improvement program and must be committed to trauma prevention and trauma team members' continuing education. The array of educational offerings the HSHS St. Vincent Emergency and Trauma Center offers to both the public and to its colleagues is vast.
Trauma Fast Facts
HSHS St. Vincent Hospital treated 972 patients and had 912 admissions to the hospital in 2024 — that’s almost 3 trauma patients a day, every day!
Most Common Causes of Trauma
- 59% of cases are falls
- 16% of cases are motor vehicle crashes
- 6% of cases are motorcycle crashes
- 4% of cases are related to the penetration from knives, guns etc.
- 5% of cases are related to recreational vehicles
Trauma Team
A trauma team consists of trauma surgeons, emergency medicine physicians, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, social workers, physical therapists and on-call physician specialists like cardiothoracic surgeons.
Dedicated trauma bays at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital trauma center ensure rapid and comprehensive patient evaluation and treatment. The trauma center itself is equipped with onsite operating rooms and diagnostics like X-ray and lab.