Patients and families may be confused by the sights and sounds of treatment. Some of the language used can be complex and you may have questions along the way. We encourage you to write down questions to share with your loved ones doctors, nurses and other care team members. Our caregivers are with you every step of the way.
Trauma care teams treat patients who have critical injuries threatening life or limbs. These severely injured patients require multi-disciplinary, comprehensive emergency medical services. Trauma surgeons have advanced training in procedures of a critical and invasive nature. There are certain criteria to follow and triage guidelines that identify the more seriously injured patients. Trauma units have the resources and expertise to handle more extreme cases where immediate survival is a concern. While you may not encounter all team members, you can be sure your needs are being covered by team members you meet and in important behind-the-scenes caretaking.
The trauma team may consist of:
- Acute Care Trauma/Burn Surgeon
- Anesthesia and Pain Management Specialists
- Care Coordinator
- Chaplain
- Clinical Nurse Specialists or Case Managers
- Dietitian
- Geriatrician
- Neurosurgeon
- Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant
- Occupational Therapist
- Orthopedic Surgeon
- Orthopedic Technician
- Patient Care Technician
- Patient Transport
- Pediatrician
- Pharmacist
- Physiatrist or Rehabilitation Medicine Physician
- Physical Therapist
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Registered Nurse
- Resident Physician
- Respiratory Therapist
- Social Worker / Trauma Counselor
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Student Nurses
- Unit Secretaries