home > our services > trauma

Trauma

The Trauma Program is dedicated to providing trauma care for injured children and adolescents. This program is involved in all aspects of care, including, pre-hospital, emergency department, inpatient care, operative management and rehabilitation. It also serves as a resource for injury prevention for the children of central Ohio.

Our Clinics

Car Seat and Bike Safety Program
Nationwide Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: (614) 722-6524
Fax: (614) 722-6518
Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Resources

Pediatric trauma lectures are available on request.

Trauma Transfer agreements are also available by request at (614) 722-6514.

PDFs

Trauma Program - 2008 Annual Report

Department Highlights

W.H.A.L.E. Car Seat Sticker Program           

The Passenger Safety Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital is proud to introduce involvement in the W.H.A.L.E.^TM car seat sticker program. W.H.A.L.E.^TM stands for "We Have A Little Emergency." The stickers are placed on the bottom of the car seat and are intended to serve as an identifier for a child riding in a car seat. If adults involved in a motor vehicle crash are seriously injured and unable to talk, emergency medical (EMS) personnel and emergency department staff can use the information on the stickers to identify the child, be advised of any special needs the child may have and know who to contact in an emergency. The W.H.A.L.E.^TM program is nationally known to EMS and emergency department staff. Stickers are available by calling (614) 722-6612. Learn more about the W.H.A.L.E.^TM program.            

Full Potential Community Report       

This is a comprehensive report depicting the health status of Franklin County's children. The report goes in depth, focusing on 10 key indicators worthy of community focus. The children of Franklin County face a number of health risks. Understanding the facts is the first step in helping them reach their full potential. Below is a highlight from the report. View the full report.

Adolescent Homicide      

Level I Trauma Program          

The American College of Surgeons verified Nationwide Children's Hospital as Ohio's first Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in 1991. Re-verification for the program was most recently received in March 2007.

As a Trauma Center, Children's provides Patient Care, Advocacy, Research and Education. A multidisciplinary team of surgeons, physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and child life specialists care for injured children from admission through discharge. Advocacy for child safety is another function of the Trauma Program. For example, in the past year, members of the trauma program visited the Ohio Statehouse to testify on safety issues.

The Trauma Program provides education to health care providers and children and families. Through programs such as Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) and pediatric trauma updates, we teach health care providers how to initiate resuscitation of critically injured children so that morbidity and mortality are reduced. Members of the trauma program speak to health care professionals throughout Ohio and in many other states. Our car seat safety specialists teach children and families about injury prevention and safety so that they will lead healthy and happy lives.