When UF Health TraumaOne began in 1983, it was the first trauma program in the state of Florida. Today, it is still the only adult and pediatric Level I trauma program in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. On any given day, anyone can end up a patient in the TraumaOne trauma center. Ordinary activities - picking up the kids from school, painting the house, walking the dog - can turn into a life-or-death situation in the blink of an eye. UF Health TraumaOne consists of five components:
- Trauma center
- Flight services
- Communications/dispatch
- Trauma prevention and education
- Emergency preparedness
TraumaOne's highly qualified staff consists of UF Health trauma surgeons, nurses and others with extensive training in caring for trauma patients. Unlike other hospitals in the area, surgeons and other health professionals such as neurosurgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthopaedic trauma surgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons are available on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The state's trauma programs are governed by a strict set of standards set by the Florida Department of Health. Every three years, TraumaOne undergoes a site visit in order to maintain its Level I trauma center accreditation. In 2013, UF Health TraumaOne added a third helicopter and implemented a new policy to dramatically cut down on our response time. Instead of basing our helicopters at UF Health Jacksonville, we have strategically placed them around the region ready to fly at a moment’s notice. Locations include Flagler Hospital in St. Johns County, Yulee in Nassau County, and Lake City Regional Airport in Columbia County.
