Car accidents. Bad falls. Urgent medical conditions, from acute appendicitis to a perforated bowel. Resulting in critical injuries and/or the need for immediate medical attention, these unexpected life occurrences demand the skills of experienced trauma and acute care surgeons to save patients’ lives.
At NorthShore, our dedicated board-certified trauma surgeons deliver leading-edge care to critically-ill surgical patients. Our trauma surgeons—all attending physicians—provide comprehensive surgical services to all four of NorthShore’s tertiary care facilities. Evanston Hospital serves as a regional state-licensed Level I Trauma Center, featuring 24-hour in-house coverage by highly qualified trauma-trained general surgeons. As Level II Trauma Centers, Glenbrook, Highland Park and Skokie Hospitals provide 24-hour immediate coverage (within 30 minutes) by our general surgery specialists.
Surgical strategies typically depend on the nature and severity of the injury and/or health condition. Our surgeons have extensive experience in the latest surgical techniques, from open surgeries to laparoscopic procedures. Early adopters of innovations in the field, NorthShore’s surgical specialists recently began employing the use of a new technique known as REBOA (resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta). A catheter-based procedure performed only by trained trauma surgeons, it works to temporary control severe and life-threatening bleeding injuries to the chest, abdomen and/or pelvic area before patients undergo emergency surgery.
Knowledgeable trauma surgery and acute care nursing staff support our trauma surgeons. When needed, our surgical specialists regularly consult with physicians in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial, pediatric and critical care.
For More Information
For more information on trauma surgery, please call 847.570.1700.
Level I
Level I Trauma Center is a comprehensive regional resource that is a tertiary care facility central to the trauma system. A Level I Trauma Center is capable of providing total care for every aspect of injury–from prevention through rehabilitation. Elements of Level I Trauma Centers include:
- 24-hour in-house coverage by general surgeons, and prompt availability of care in specialties such as orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial, pediatric and critical care.
- Referral resource for communities in nearby regions.
- Provides leadership in prevention and public education to surrounding communities.
- Provides continuing education of the trauma team members.
- Incorporates a comprehensive quality assessment program.
- Operates an organized teaching and research effort to help direct new innovations in trauma care.
- Program for substance abuse screening and patient intervention.
- Meets minimum requirement for annual volume of severely injured patients.
Level II
A Level II Trauma Center is able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients. Elements of Level II Trauma Centers include:
- 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons, as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care.
- Tertiary care needs such as cardiac surgery, hemodialysis and microvascular surgery may be referred to a Level I Trauma Center.
- Provides trauma prevention and continuing education programs for staff.
- Incorporates a comprehensive quality assessment program.