Trauma care when you need it most
Trauma
When you or someone you love has a serious or life-threatening health emergency, every second counts. Our trauma team is here to offer the very best — and often lifesaving — care when those moments matter most.
What is a trauma center?
A trauma center is a specialized hospital, staffed and equipped to provide immediate, complex critical care for patients with severe or life-threatening injuries.
With several hospitals and trauma centers across central and northeastern Pennsylvania, we're here when you need us.
Working closely with the Geisinger Life Flight and first responders across our communities, our trauma specialists act fast and offer lifesaving care — 24/7. We work together to stabilize and treat some of the most critically ill or injured patients who visit our emergency rooms, treating complex and life-threatening injuries including:
- Blunt trauma
- Broken bones
- Puncture wounds
- Severe burns
- Spine injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Complex pelvic trauma
Advanced trauma care in Pennsylvania
Geisinger trauma centers are located in our emergency departments so our teams are ready when you need them most.
Our trauma centers receive trauma patients directly, as well as patients who are transferred from other Geisinger hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the regions we serve.
Each of our trauma centers has access to 24/7 specialty care, including neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, general surgeons, plastic surgeons, heart surgeons, radiologists, pediatricians, therapists, rehabilitation specialists, social workers and many others to coordinate your care from surgery through recovery.
Level I trauma center
Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre are Level 1 trauma centers.
A Level I emergency trauma center:
- Provides around-the-clock complex critical care for patients with life-threatening injuries
- Offers total care for every aspect of traumatic injury — from prevention through rehabilitation
- Offers prevention and public education resources to surrounding communities
- Is a leader in teaching and research to help bring innovations to trauma care
Geisinger Medical Center offers:
- A dedicated Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with specially trained staff who provide and coordinate multi-disciplinary critical care
- A hybrid operating room where high-tech imaging and surgery can be performed simultaneously, helping diagnose and treat those with traumatic injuries with the utmost precision
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), an advanced therapy that delivers healthy oxygen to the blood
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center offers:
- A hybrid operating room where high-tech imaging and surgery can be performed simultaneously, helping diagnose and treat those with traumatic injuries with the utmost precision
- ECMO, an advanced therapy that delivers healthy oxygen to the blood
- Learn more about our Trauma Services (Spanish version)
- Meet the GWV Trauma Team (Spanish version)
Level II trauma centers
In addition to our Level I trauma centers, two of our hospitals are designated as Level II trauma facilities.
A Level II emergency trauma center:
- Provides around-the-clock advanced surgical care for patients with life-threatening injuries
- Offers total care for all aspects of traumatic injury — from prevention through rehabilitation
- Is equipped 24/7 with resources to stabilize and treat most patients
- Offers trauma prevention and continuing education resources to its staff
Our Level II emergency trauma centers include:
- Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton
- Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville (pediatric)
Level IV trauma centers
In addition to our Level I and II trauma centers, two of our hospitals are designated as Level IV trauma facilities.
A Level IV emergency trauma center:
- Provides basic advanced trauma life support before transferring patients to another trauma center
- May perform surgery and some critical-care services
- Offers trauma prevention and continuing education resources to its staff
Our Level IV emergency trauma centers are:
- Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, the only trauma center in Mifflin County
- Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital
Injury-prevention programs and community education
We offer educational programs and services to keep our communities safe. All our educational programs — on topics ranging from pedestrian safety to gun locks — are free. To learn more, click Explore our programs.
In case of an emergency, dial 911.
Trauma and emergency care at Geisinger
Our ERs and trauma centers are staffed by skilled, compassionate doctors, surgeons and nurses who are specially trained to treat emergency illnesses and injuries. We offer:
- The care you need, when you need it: Our emergency rooms have emergency medicine doctors available around the clock, as well as specialists if you need additional care. Your care will include the latest treatment options, delivered by a skilled team focused on getting you safely through your health emergency.
- Trauma centers for critical injuries: When you or someone you love is severely injured, having fast access to trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses and a fully prepared facility is crucial. Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center are Level 1 trauma centers, which means they’re equipped to provide the highest level of trauma care to those who are critically ill or injured.
- Specialized care: Many of our surgeons have completed advanced training (called fellowships) in specific types of surgery. This precise level of care leads to improved accuracy and fewer complications.
- Support services and amenities: We’re here to help you and your loved ones successfully navigate a trip to the emergency room. Our hospitals provide spiritual care, interpreters and special communication services, patient liaisons, complimentary Wi-Fi, ATMs, healthy dining options, gift shops and notary public services, among other amenities.