Resuscitation

Most trauma patients arrive at University Hospital by ambulance or in a medically-configured helicopter, such as those operated by San Antonio AirLIFE. The on-call trauma team is notified via digital pagers prior to the arrival of all seriously injured patients. Team members gather in the emergency center's Trauma Resuscitation Room and begin preparing supplies and paperwork for the incoming patient.

Once the patient arrives in the Resuscitation Room, the team immediately begins assessing and documenting injuries and, if needed, provides immediate, life-saving, medical intervention. Lab facilities and radiology equipment are located in the immediate area ­ so blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, ultrasound and other diagnostic tools can be used to provide information rapidly.

Time is particularly important in the first hour after serious injury. This is often referred to as "The Golden Hour" ­ the brief window of time in which the lives of a majority of critically injured trauma patients can be saved if definitive treatment is provided. Only 60 minutes ­ from the moment of injury, to call 911, dispatch an ambulance, transport the victim to a trauma center, and perform the necessary, life-saving intervention ­ leaves no time to waste.

Surgery

A dedicated elevator located adjacent to the Resuscitation Room transports trauma patients requiring emergency surgery directly to the operating suites located on the 2nd floor of the hospital.

The surgical trauma team includes:

• Anesthesiologists
• Cardiothoracic surgeons
• General surgeons
• Neurosurgeons
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Orthopaedic surgeons
• Plastic and Recontructive Surgeons
• Radiologists
• Surgical nurses
• Surgical technicians
• Vascular surgeons

While the trauma patient is in the operating room, family members may wait in the inpatient OR waiting room located in the 2nd floor of the hospital, next to the "B" elevators. A phone in the waiting room enables the surgical nurse to update family members during surgery. A surgeon will come to the waiting room to provide family members with a report and answer questions after the operation is completed.

Intensive Care

After surgery and post-operative recovery, many adult trauma patients are transferred to the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) located on the 10th floor. This unit is accessible by following the signs for the "D" elevators.

The highly-trained and experienced STICU nurses care for no more than two patients at a time. This low patient-to-nurse ratio means patients are monitored extremely closely and nurses are very familiar with their patients' conditions and plans for care.

Rest is extremely important during this stage of the recovery process, so the STICU is a locked unit and family and friends may only visit in small numbers and during designated visiting hours. Children under the age of 14 may not visit the STICU unless special permission is granted by the nurse manager.

STICU visiting hours are daily from:

• 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• 1:30 to 4 p.m.
• 8 to 10:30 p.m.

Visiting hours are at the nurse's discretion. For the benefit of the patients, you may be asked to leave at any time.

A large waiting area is provided for family members who choose to remain at the hospital while their loved one is in the STICU. This area is located on the 8th floor of the hospital and is accessible by the "D" elevators. A courtesy phone located in this area enables nurses to contact family members with condition reports.

To inquire about your loved one's condition, please dial 358-2590. In order to respect our patient's right to confidentiality, only their condition will be given out via telephone. You will be asked to designate one family contact and information will be given to that person only. Please call the designated family contact for updates. The phone number for the 8th floor waiting room is 616-9523.

Pediatric Intensive Care

Pediatric trauma patients needing admission to the hospital are transferred to the Janey Brisco Children's Center located on the 9th floor of University Hospital and can be accessed by using the "D" elevators.

Rehabilitation

Depending on the type and severity of the injury, trauma patients often require rehabilitation either in the hospital, or on an outpatient basis.

While rehabilitation generally begins as soon as the patient is stabilized, therapists may be called upon to evaluate some patients at an even earlier stage. Early intervention helps patients regain the maximum level of function as quickly as possible.

The Reeves Rehabilitation Center provides a comprehensive array of services:

• Physical and occupational therapists to help patients regain control of their muscles
• Speech pathologists and respiratory therapists to help patients work on speech, breathing and swallowing
• Vocational and recreational therapists to help patient with life-style and job-related skills.

Trauma follow-up Care

After discharge from the hospital, trauma patients will often be given an appointment at one of the trauma follow-up clinics at University Hospital. These clinics provide continuity of care, allowing the same surgeons and residents who monitor patients while in the hospital to assess the healing process after the patient has returned home. Trauma follow-up clinics enable patients to ask questions and obtain additional information on issues such as wound-care, medications and returning to school or work. The trauma follow-up clinic is located on the 2nd floor next to the Express-Med Clinic. The pediatric follow-up clinic is located on the 5th floor and can be accessed by using the "A" elevators.