“Take me to VCU.”

There is a reason VCU Medical Center is the destination of choice for first responders and patients in life's most challenging times. As the only comprehensive Level I trauma center in the region verified in adult, pediatric and burn trauma care, we are specially equipped to handle the most complex traumatic injuries 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

The importance of Level I

We have a highly orchestrated team of specialists. Our goal is simple: deliver the best care possible to our patients, no matter how challenging the circumstances, and provide training and education to help prevent injuries and violence before they occur. Our state-of-the-art facilities and our experienced, compassionate staff mean we are well-equipped to handle even the most complex traumatic injuries, and we staff board-certified trauma and critical care surgeons around the clock. 

As part of our Level I designation, we provide education for the community, EMS providers and healthcare professionals with comprehensive training programs. 

Equipped to handle the most serious trauma

Because of our status, we serve as a regional referral center for all of Virginia, with a team that receives more than 4,000 trauma patients every year at the highest level of care. Ours is the only trauma center in the Richmond area with 11 dually board-certified doctors in trauma and critical care. Patient outcomes reflect our exceptional competence in patient treatment, with lower-than-average mortality rates reported by the American College of Surgeons’ National Trauma Data Bank. 

Our Critical Care Hospital offers an ultramodern emergency department, 232 private beds, 112 ICU beds and 10 state-of-the-art operating rooms.

Our facilities and experienced, highly trained staff mean we are well-equipped to handle even the most complex traumatic injuries. We staff board-certified trauma, critical care surgeons and support specialists around the clock, and with a six-bay major trauma suite, the 865-bed VCU Medical Center is a regional referral center and provides advanced care for cardiac, trauma, pediatric, obstetric, and gynecologic emergencies.

Beyond care at the time of injury, our trauma teams are committed to community outreach and advocacy. They lead community programs that seek to stop violence and trauma and promote prevention and safety. We also work closely with survivors and families by connecting them to support groups, staying at their side during rehabilitation and teaching healthy coping strategies.

Trauma center standards are established by the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Emergency Physicians. The Commonwealth’s standards are reviewed and updated based on changes to national standards and the evolving needs of Virginia’s trauma system.

Our commitment to the community

In addition to our trauma care, our commitment to the community has never been stronger. Through our innovative research, trauma systems development and education programs, we aim to integrate both social and clinical aspects at all levels of our work. Our goal is to create models, both of care and of prevention, for our community that can be replicated in the commonwealth and beyond. 

The extensive efforts of our International Trauma System Development Program, for instance, resulted in our being named as the permanent headquarters for the Panamerican Trauma Society, the leading academic organization for 18 national trauma societies in North, Central and South America.

We’ve also joined the national Trauma Survivors Network, and are in the process of creating our own local TSN. Our hope is that this network will provide a community of patients and families, allowing them to connect with one another, share their stories and help each other rebuild their lives after a serious injury.