Parkland Hospital and its staff of UT Southwestern Medical Center surgeons have long been at the forefront of trauma care both nationally and internationally. Parkland became the first verified level I trauma center in Texas in 1987. Being a level I trauma center means that Parkland Memorial Hospital is staffed 24 hours a day by attending trauma surgery staff and has the facility and expertise to deal with the injured patient at any time.

To further accomplish this goal, Parkland has brought together a team of experts to include trauma surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, and other surgical specialists.

In addition, Parkland has developed and implemented a very successful trauma case management team to optimize patient care from admission through rehabilitation. As such, Parkland has distinguished itself as one of the busiest and most reputable trauma centers in the United States.

A Worthy Goal

With this foundation, the Parkland/UT Southwestern Trauma Network hopes to expand the range of complex care of the injured patient over a broad area in north Texas and surrounding states. The goal of the network is to provide comprehensive and expeditious care to injured patients. With the concentration of expertise in the facility, the goal is to reduce morbidity and mortality in the trauma patient population.

These services are available to area hospitals participating in the Parkland/UT Southwestern Trauma Network:

• Assistance with trauma center designation
• Trauma nursing education
• Trauma nursing credentialing
• Facilitated trauma transfers
• Assistance with trauma registry
• Assistance with trauma performance improvement process
• Injury prevention
• On-site experience