Level I Trauma Center
In the United States a Level I trauma center provides the highest level of surgical care to trauma patients. A Level I trauma center is required to have a certain number of surgeons and anesthesiologists on duty 24 hours a day, an education program, and preventive and outreach programs. They must also have a full-time trauma program manager. Key elements include 24-hour in-house coverage by general surgeons and prompt availability of care in specialties such as orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine and critical care. Also, a trauma surgeon is expected to be in the emergency room within 15 minutes of patient arrival. Hospitals are designated as a Level I trauma center by the American College of Surgeons for a period of three years. Designation is based on performance criteria. To qualify, Level I centers must treat 1200 admissions a year or 240 major trauma patients per year or an average of 35 major trauma patients per surgeon. References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_I_Trauma_Center
http://www.facs.org/trauma/faq_answers.html