Trauma Centers

What is a Trauma Center? A trauma center is a type of hospital that provides trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons and other surgical and non-surgical specialists and medical personnel, equipment and facilities for immediate or follow-up treatment for severely injured patients, 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. If you've experienced a mild or moderate injury, the emergency departments of acute care hospitals licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration are ready with basic emergency services to treat you. However, if you have severe traumatic injuries, having fast access to a hospital that has been verified by the Department of Health as a Level I, Level II or Pediatric trauma center is critical to your survival. Each year, Florida's trauma system helps to ensure that emergency medical services providers provide pre-hospital care and transport of injured residents and visitors to the nearest trauma center. Timely and quality emergency medical services, trauma care and medical rehabilitation can help individuals continue to live to their full potential, despite having experienced a severe injury.

Florida currently has 22 verified trauma centers. Florida's trauma centers are verified by the Office of Trauma in accordance with section 395.4025, Florida Statutes and Rules 64J-2.011 - 2.017, F.A.C. All levels of trauma centers are critical components of Florida's trauma system.

Florida Trauma Centers List

TRAUMA CENTER ON-SITE SURVEY SCHEDULE

Trauma Centers On-Site Survey Schedule for Fiscal Year 2011-2012

Trauma Centers On-Site Survey Schedule for Fiscal Year 2012-2013

LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTERS

Level I trauma centers have formal research and education programs for the enhancement of trauma care. Level I trauma centers are verified by the Office of Trauma to be in substantial compliance with Level I trauma center and Pediatric trauma referral-center standards. Level I trauma centers also serve as resource facilities to Level II trauma centers, Pediatric trauma referral-centers, and general hospitals through shared outreach, education, and quality-improvement activities. Level I trauma centers participate in an inclusive system of trauma care, including providing leadership, system evaluation, and quality-improvement activities.

LEVEL II TRAUMA CENTERS

Level II trauma centers are verified by the Office of Trauma to be in substantial compliance with Level II trauma center standards, as established by Department of Health rule. Level II trauma centers serve as resource facilities to general hospitals through shared outreach, education, and quality-improvement activities. Level II trauma centers also participate in an inclusive system of trauma care.

PEDIATRIC TRAUMA CENTERS

Pediatric trauma centers are verified by the Office of Trauma to be in substantial compliance with the pediatric trauma center standards, as established by Department of Health rule. Pediatric trauma centers are required to participate in collaborative research and conduct education programs for the enhancement of pediatric trauma care. These centers also serve as resource facilities to general hospitals through shared outreach, education, and quality-improvement activities and participate in an inclusive system of trauma care.

Below is more information about Florida's Trauma Centers. Read more about the process for approval of trauma centers.

Process for Renewal of Trauma Centers

At least 14 months prior to the expiration of the trauma center's certificate, the Department of Health, Office of Trauma, (department), will send to each trauma center that is eligible to renew a blank DH Form 2032R, January 2008. Within 15 calendar days after receipt, the trauma center choosing to renew its certification will submit the completed DH Form 2032R to the department. (64J-2.015, Process for Renewal of Trauma Centers.)

Letter of Intent 2011

In accordance with section 395.4025(2)(a)(b), Florida Statutes, the "Letter of Intent" DH Form 1840, January 2010, will be mailed to all licensed acute care hospitals on the last working day of July, in order to apply to become a trauma center. A hospital that is currently approved and seeks to add another level of service must also submit a letter of intent as provided by Florida Administrative Code 64J-2.012, (1) (a)(b)(c).

Submission of a Letter of Intent does not, however, obligate a hospital or trauma center to submit an application. For the Department of Health, Office of Trauma (department), to consider a Letter of Intent, the form DH Form 1840, January 2010, must be completed and postmarked between September 1, 2011, and midnight October 1, 2011, and returned to the department. Any Letter of Intent that is postmarked earlier than September 1, 2011, or later than midnight, October 1, 2011, shall not be accepted by the department. Facsimile transmissions of Letters of Intent will be accepted until an original is submitted.

The department recommends reviewing the Trauma Center Standards, Department of Health Pamphlet 150-9, January 2010, to see what is required of Trauma Centers. Also, look at the trauma service area the hospital is in, and compare the current number of Trauma Centers with the number of slots set aside pursuant to Rule 64J-2.010(3), Florida Administrative Code.

No later than October 14, 2011, the department will send a letter acknowledging receipt of each hospital's Letter of Intent with directions on how to complete the application process.

• Acute Care Hospitals that submitted Letter of Intent September 2011
• Letter of Intent - 2011
• DH Form 1840 - January 2010
• Florida Trauma Agencies Contact Information

Trauma Center Statutes and Rules

• Chapter 395, Part II, Florida Statutes
• Chapter 401, Florida Statutes
• Rule 64J-2, Trauma Services Florida Administrative Code

Trauma Center Standards

• DOH Pamphlet 150-9 Trauma Center Standards (January 2010)

Trauma Center Application

No later than October 14, 2011, the department will send a letter acknowledging receipt of each hospital's Letter of Intent with directions on how to complete the application process.

In order to be considered by the department, applications from those hospitals seeking selection as trauma centers, including those current verified trauma centers that seek a change or re-designation in approval status as a trauma center, must be received by the department no later than the close of business on April 1. (64J-2.012, Process for the Approval of Trauma Centers.) The department will conduct a provisional review of each application for the purpose of determining that the hospital's application is complete and that the hospital has the critical elements required for a trauma center.

The department may grant an extension of up to an additional 18 months to a hospital applicant that is unable to meet all requirements of the critical elements by April 1. (64J-2.013, Extension of Application Period.)

After April 30, any hospital that submitted an application found acceptable by the department based on the provisional review will be eligible to operate as a provisional trauma center. Between May 1 and October 1 of each year, the department will conduct an in-depth evaluation of all applications found acceptable in the provisional review. The applications will be evaluated against criteria enumerated in the application packages as provided to the hospitals by the department. Beginning October 1 of each year and ending no later than June 1 of the following year, a review team of out-of-state experts assembled by the department, will make onsite visits to all provisional trauma centers. Based on recommendations from the review team, the department will select trauma centers by July 1. Each hospital approved as a trauma center will be issued a DH Form 2032, Certificate of Approval. (64J-2.014, Certificate of Approval.)

The following 3 documents are pdf files.
Level I Trauma Center Application Manual, January 2010
Level II Trauma Center Application Manual, January 2010
Pediatric Trauma Center Application Manual, January 2010

The following 3 documents are Word documents.
Level One Trauma Center Application Manual - January 2010
Level Two Trauma Center Application Manual - January 2010
Pediatric Trauma Center Application Manual - January 2010

Trauma Center Application Timeline

• Trauma Center Application Timeline

(If a hospital requests an extension, the timeline remains the same, the months change.)

Florida's Trauma Centers

• Contact Information and Websites of Trauma Centers
• Map

Trauma Service Areas (TSA)

• State Map of Florida's Trauma Service Areas
• Text Equivalent

Florida's Trauma Centers and Domestic Security Regions

Trauma Agency Information

• Florida Trauma Agency Locations Map
• Powers, Benefits, and Responsibilities of a Trauma Agency