No time to spare

Working together, saving lives

By Alisha Kinman

Photos by Jesse Jones and Mindy Miller

For more than 10 years, area patients in need of emergent care in extreme cases have relied on the UF Health Shands Trauma Center — the area’s only designated Level 1 trauma center. Some trauma patients arrive to the hospital via UF Health ShandsCair emergency transport, or by a third-party emergency medical service provider. The rooftop helipad at UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital makes patient transport fast and accessible to the trauma center, located in the UF Health Shands E.R.

Our trauma center teams provide comprehensive care for all injuries, including the most significant life-threatening injuries in adults and children — severe orthopaedic trauma, gunshot wounds and traumatic brain injuries. Since 2004, our teams have treated more than 25,000 patients with traumatic injuries, almost half of which resulted from motor vehicle collisions.

Here’s how we mobilize for a trauma situation

When an emergency strikes, our E.R. and trauma teams and EMS providers are prepared to stabilize the patient and line up definitive treatment as swiftly as possible. With a strategic plan in place and a team of highly trained clinicians on standby, our teams are prepared to handle Level 1 trauma patients at any given time.