Expert Urgent / Emergent Care for Surgical and Trauma Patients

The Division of Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery provides 24/7 consultation, operative management, and critical care expertise for urgent/emergent surgical and trauma patients. We work within a multidisciplinary team of specialty-trained surgeons, surgical intensivists, anesthesiologists, emergency medicine physicians, and a dedicated group of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and social workers. This group concentrates many aspects of patient care into one service. It utilizes contemporary evidence-based care pathways to improve quality, safety, and patient satisfaction while decreasing cost and variability in treatment.

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center is a quaternary referral center in East Cleveland. Our trauma center holds Level 1 verification status from the American College of Surgeons, which indicates we provide comprehensive trauma care services according to nationally recognized standards for every aspect of injury care. The Level 1 Trauma Center is the hub of our Trauma Institute and coordinates efforts with the UH and UH-affiliated Level 3 trauma centers in the region. Together, this regional access to trauma care services has improved outcomes for thousands of patients and represents a significant resource for the community. In addition, we play a leading role in community outreach and education to curb violence and reduce return visits to the ER.

Research and education are key components of our mission. The Division supports the education of medical students and residents from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals. Several other graduate and undergraduate medical education programs in Northeast Ohio sent their learners to UH to augment their education. We regularly act as teaching faculty for the American College of Surgeons Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Fundamental of Critical Care Support (FCCS) courses.

University Hospitals is proud of its rich military history. The division is fully invested in the concept of military-civilian partnerships to sustain the trauma readiness of our Armed Forces. In 2019, we became a training venue for the United States Navy Hospital Corpsman Trauma Training Course. This successful program is a method by which our division can serve the country’s needs by giving these young sailors the required expertise to treat injuries they will see in future combat environments.