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 24 verified trauma centers. Florida's trauma centers are verified by the Trauma Program 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.

Trauma Centers and Acute Care Hospitals Map
Florida Trauma Centers by Trauma Service Area/Regional Domestic Security Task Force Regions

Florida Trauma Centers List as of 3-29-13

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 Trauma Program 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 Trauma Program 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 Trauma Program 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.

Letter of Intent 2013

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 DH Form 1840, January 2010, must be completed and returned to the department. Any Letter of Intent that is postmarked earlier than September 2, 2013, or later than midnight, October 1, 2013, shall not be accepted by the department.

We recommend you review your trauma service area to compare the current number of trauma centers with the number of slots set aside for trauma centers by Rule 64J-2.010(3), F.A.C., for that area.

No later than October 15, 2013, the department will send a letter acknowledging receipt of each hospital's Letter of Intent with directions on how to complete the application process.

Letter of Intent 2013
DH Form 1840, January 2010

Please see above for the Statutes, Rules and Standards associated with the application.

Process for Renewal of Trauma Centers

At least 14 months prior to the expiration of the trauma center's certificate, the Department of Health, Trauma Program, (department), will send to each trauma center that is eligible to renew a blank DH Form 2032R, January 2010. 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.)

Trauma Center Application

No later than October 15, 2012 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 F.A.C. 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, (Rule 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 reviewers 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", (Rule 64J-2.014, Certificate of Approval. F.A.C.)

Trauma Service Areas (TSA)

• State Map of Florida's Trauma Service Areas

Trauma Agency Information

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