Trauma Guidelines and Protocols

The Office of Emergency Medical Services oversees the development, implementation and monitoring of criteria, protocols, and patient care guidelines for trauma centers and trauma systems. Here you will find information on trauma systems and the trauma center designation process.

Trauma Center Designation

The procedures and guidelines listed below provide information on trauma center designation surveys:

Trauma Designation Guidelines, Agenda and Chart Criteria

Performance Improvement Guideline for the North Carolina Trauma System

RULES

The rules approved by the North Carolina Medical Care Commission for trauma include standards for trauma center designation and trauma system design. 10A NCAC 13P Initial trauma center designation by the state is effective for three years. Renewal designations are effective for four years. A hospital may also choose to be verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) when renewing their designation. The verification by the ACS is effective for three years. The ACS website further explains the verification requirements.