Explanation of State Trauma Levels

Regional Pediatric Trauma Center (RPTC)

Provides the highest level of definitive and comprehensive care for pediatric patients with complex injuries. Emergency physicians, nurses, and surgeons are immediately available to the pediatric trauma patient. Regional Pediatric Trauma Centers are responsible for research , professional and community education, prevention, and consultative community outreach services and programs statewide.

Level I

Provides the highest level of definitive and comprehensive care for patients with complex injuries. Emergency physicians, nurses and surgeons are immediately available to the trauma patient. Level I Trauma Centers are responsible for research, professional and community education, prevention, consultative community outreach services and programs statewide.

Level II

Provides definitive care for complex and severe trauma patients. Emergency physicians and nurses are in-house and immediately available to the trauma patient to direct patient care and initiate resuscitation and stabilization. A surgeon is available upon patient arrival in the Emergency Department. A broad range of specialists, comprehensive diagnostic capabilities, and support equipment are available.

Level III

Provides initial evaluation and stabilization (surgically if appropriate) to the trauma patient. Comprehensive medical and surgical inpatient services are available to those patients who can be maintained in a stable or improving condition without specialized care. Emergency physicians and nurses are immediately available, and surgeons within 20 minutes, to assess, resuscitate, stabilize and initiate transfer as necessary to a higher level Trauma Care Service.

Level IV

Provides initial evaluation, stabilization, diagnostic capabilities and transfer to a higher level of care. May provide surgical and critical care services as defined in the service's scope of trauma care services.  A trauma-trained nurse is immediately available, and physicians are available upon patient arrival in the Emergency Department.

Level V

Provides initial evaluation, stabilization, diagnostic capabilities and transfer to a higher level of care. May provide surgical and critical care services as defined in the service's scope of trauma care services. A trauma-trained nurse is immediately available, and physicians are available upon patient arrival in the Emergency Department. The facility must have an after-hours trauma response protocol, if not open 24 hours daily.

Non-designated

Must transfer all trauma patients, except those defined in rule (Chapter 2) to the appropriate, designated trauma center. Transfer agreements are required.

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
HFEMS-A2
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246-1530
Phone: (303) 692-2980
Fax: (303) 691-7720