Trauma Center

Our Lady of the Lake is one of only three Level I trauma centers in Louisiana and the only one in the Baton Rouge region. The designation certifies that access to trauma surgeons and other specially trained medical team members is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Level I trauma center treats the most seriously injured patients who require immediate care.

Services 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.
• Serves as a 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 the minimum requirement for annual volume of severely injured patients.

Level I trauma centers provide for tertiary care needs such as cardiac surgery, hemodialysis and microvascular surgery that may not be available at Level II and III facilities.