Trauma
Reducing the impact of injury on your life – when you need us the most
Traumatic injury or illness can be complicated. Your trauma may involve multiple bones, organs or parts of the body. Luckily, we have a team of experts trained to handle all types of serious injuries and illnesses.
From transportation to surgery to rehabilitation, we have the services you need to recover from the most severe traumatic conditions.
A trauma center is not the same thing as an emergency department. Trauma care provides advanced, comprehensive care for traumatic injuries, with access to more resources and technology than you can receive in an emergency department.
Trauma centers have operating rooms, imaging technology, trauma surgeons and other specialty physicians available quickly at all times.
At IU Health, our trauma services include:
Critical care
After initial treatments and surgeries are complete, you may receive around the clock monitoring in our critical care unit. Critical care physicians specialize in managing the symptoms of severe illnesses and injuries such as respiratory failure, pressure around the brain, organ failure and pain.
Critical care transport
LifeLine ground and air transport staff offer expert care while transporting critically injured patients. Special training, equipment and highly skilled staff keep you stable until reaching the hospital for further treatment.
Hand surgery
Because hands are so delicate and important to our daily lives, they require special surgical care. Our fellowship-trained hand surgeons are experts at performing intricate and complex procedures on hands to restore as much function and feeling as possible.
Hybrid suite
Hybrid suites are set up to allow both open surgeries and noninvasive interventional radiology procedures at the same time. This allows for better and faster treatment delivery.
Imaging and radiology services
Imaging technology, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans play a vital role in identifying and treating injuries. Interventional radiologists also play a role in trauma care as they quickly stop internal bleeding without creating large incisions.
Neurosurgery
Our surgeons offer advanced care for brain and spinal cord injuries, even in later stages of recovery. We perform life-changing surgeries that can improve and restore certain functions.
Orthopedic trauma surgery
Severe traumatic injuries often result in complex bone fractures. Our orthopedic surgeons have extensive training in repairing these fractures, as well as tears in muscles and ligaments.
Rehabilitation
Our physical, occupational and speech therapists provide care both in and outside of the hospital and on a short- and long-term basis depending on a patient’s needs.
Our Approach to Trauma Care
A trauma center is not the same thing as an emergency department. Trauma care provides advanced, comprehensive care for traumatic injuries, with access to more resources and technology than you can receive in an emergency department.
Trauma centers have operating rooms, imaging technology, trauma surgeons and other specialty physicians available quickly at all times.
At IU Health, our trauma services include:
Critical care
After initial treatments and surgeries are complete, you may receive around the clock monitoring in our critical care unit. Critical care physicians specialize in managing the symptoms of severe illnesses and injuries such as respiratory failure, pressure around the brain, organ failure and pain.
Critical care transport
LifeLine ground and air transport staff offer expert care while transporting critically injured patients. Special training, equipment and highly skilled staff keep you stable until reaching the hospital for further treatment.
Hand surgery
Because hands are so delicate and important to our daily lives, they require special surgical care. Our fellowship-trained hand surgeons are experts at performing intricate and complex procedures on hands to restore as much function and feeling as possible.
Hybrid suite
Hybrid suites are set up to allow both open surgeries and noninvasive interventional radiology procedures at the same time. This allows for better and faster treatment delivery.
Imaging and radiology services
Imaging technology, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans play a vital role in identifying and treating injuries. Interventional radiologists also play a role in trauma care as they quickly stop internal bleeding without creating large incisions.
Neurosurgery
Our surgeons offer advanced care for brain and spinal cord injuries, even in later stages of recovery. We perform life-changing surgeries that can improve and restore certain functions.
Orthopedic trauma surgery
Severe traumatic injuries often result in complex bone fractures. Our orthopedic surgeons have extensive training in repairing these fractures, as well as tears in muscles and ligaments.
Rehabilitation
Our physical, occupational and speech therapists provide care both in and outside of the hospital and on a short- and long-term basis depending on a patient’s needs.
Jan 09
“Something so small, yet it saved my life,” shares Ellison Shidler, 19, of Lafayette—referring to her equestrian helmet. According to Horses Only, horseback riding is the leading cause of sports-related traumatic brain injuries. In late November, Shidler almost became another statistic. When she was four, Shidler’s parents took her to the fair where she begged to ride the ponies. She picked the biggest one and her love for riding became her everything. She learned to ride at Wild About Horses Equestrian Center in West Point, Ind. “It became my second home,” she shares. “Pam Bowen (the owner) has been there for me through everything. She even helped me purchase my first and second horses.” A shared understanding In 2012, IU Health Arnett Hospital became a level III trauma center. As part of the accreditation, Teresa Williams, RN, started a trauma outreach program to help decrease the number of TBIs. As a rider herself, she was determined to provide education on the need to wear equestrian helmets when riding. Pam Bowen with Wild About Horses was there to help. Williams made her first equestrian helmet presentation in Williamsport for the 4-H team in 2013. Shidler was in the class. “I remember
Patient Stories for Trauma
Jan 09
“Something so small, yet it saved my life,” shares Ellison Shidler, 19, of Lafayette—referring to her equestrian helmet. According to Horses Only, horseback riding is the leading cause of sports-related traumatic brain injuries. In late November, Shidler almost became another statistic. When she was four, Shidler’s parents took her to the fair where she begged to ride the ponies. She picked the biggest one and her love for riding became her everything. She learned to ride at Wild About Horses Equestrian Center in West Point, Ind. “It became my second home,” she shares. “Pam Bowen (the owner) has been there for me through everything. She even helped me purchase my first and second horses.” A shared understanding In 2012, IU Health Arnett Hospital became a level III trauma center. As part of the accreditation, Teresa Williams, RN, started a trauma outreach program to help decrease the number of TBIs. As a rider herself, she was determined to provide education on the need to wear equestrian helmets when riding. Pam Bowen with Wild About Horses was there to help. Williams made her first equestrian helmet presentation in Williamsport for the 4-H team in 2013. Shidler was in the class. “I remember