About Trauma
What is trauma?
According to the American Trauma Society, a leading spokes organization for trauma care and trauma prevention in the U.S., trauma is severe blunt or penetrating injury primarily caused by automobile crashes, gunshots, knife wounds, falls, battery or burns. In fact, unintentional traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in the U.S. of individuals ages one to 34. Trauma also causes many short- and long-term disabilities, including brain injury and paralysis.
Mercy also addresses secondary trauma—the effects that the injured individual’s loved ones must deal with. Our chaplains, social workers and care coordinators are here to gently guide patients and families from the initial injury through the entire hospital and recovery phase.
When a person’s traumatic injury is caused by sexual assault, Mercy offers its SANE program. A sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) offers treats and guides sexual assault patients with compassion and support and has the expertise to offer effective courtroom testimony.
Emergency Care VS. Trauma Care
Our Level II trauma center has an entire multi-disciplinary critical care team—including specialty surgeons—ready at a moment’s notice to care for the most severely injured patients. A trauma activation initiates a response from key members of the trauma team to mobilize immediately to attend to trauma patients. Everything is in place upon the patient’s arrival: doctors, nurses, imaging equipment, operating rooms and support staff. To give our trauma patients the best and fastest care possible, we work closely with local emergency responders and surrounding hospitals and trauma centers.
Our helicopter landing pad is always ready to quickly accept air-transported patients.
U.S. Senator Herb Kohl congratulates Mercy Hospital Janesville for being named a Level II Trauma Center
Congratulations to Mercy Hospital Janesville for being named a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons.
This prestigious designation is a testament to Mercy's commitment to quality patient care. As the only Level II Trauma Center in southern Wisconsin, Mercy provides patients with the immediate care required for emergencies, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. Mercy's Trauma Center has highly qualified staff, ready to meet the array of patient needs that arise in emergency situations. This recognition of Mercy's outstanding service to communities throughout southern Wisconsin comes at a time when the nation is poised to finalize health care reform. Let Mercy Hospital in Janesville serve as a model in quality, affordable health care delivery.
Again, congratulations to Mercy Hospital. Best wishes for continued success.
