Emergency Services

Proud to be Nebraska's First Basic Level Trauma Center

Lincoln, NE
On November 26, 2003, Governor Mike Johanns recognized Kimball Health Services as the first basic level trauma center designated in Nebraska for the developing Statewide Trauma System.

"Designating Kimball Health Services as the state's first basic level trauma center is a milestone on the way to development of our statewide trauma system," Gov. Johanns said. "When the call went out for small hospitals to help us save lives through the new trauma system, Kimball stepped up to the plate."

With a trauma system in place, more Nebraskans will have access to the best possible care and emergency medical services." A trauma injury is an injury that requires immediate medical or surgical intervention or treatment to prevent death or permanent disability, such as injuries from car crashes, falls, fires, firearms and other accidents.

Through the Statewide Trauma System, integrated care will start with emergency responders and include the designated trauma centers. This means that even in very rural parts of Nebraska, people will have better access to lifesaving efforts during the "golden hour" that is so important.

"Death due to trauma is the number one killer of young Nebraskans age 1 to 44. It robs us of so many productive people and is such a hardship for families and friends," Gov. Johanns said.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic and potentially disabling injuries in Nebraska. In 2002, there were 46,236 crashes and 307 deaths.

Designation of trauma centers is based on criteria set out by the Statewide Trauma System Act. Hospitals and medical clinics that meet the criteria will be designated as basic, general, advanced or comprehensive level trauma centers. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regulation and Licensure division is the designating entity.

Kimball Health Services handles more than 500 emergency-department visits per year. As a basic level trauma center, we now have a team for responding to patients with traumatic injuries and has established criteria for activation of the team. The team includes on-call nursing staff, a physician and physician assistant, laboratory personnel, an x-ray technician, a social worker and other staff as necessary. Kimball Health Services also has the required equipment, including resuscitation equipment for adult and pediatric patients.

A trauma system is an organized approach to providing care to trauma patients and sets out the roles for personnel, facilities and equipment so that effective and coordinated care can be achieved. The trauma system's goals include prevention of injuries, provision of optimal care, access for all and containment of health care costs. The objective is to match each patient's needs to the resources of the facility.

The development of the Statewide Trauma System is being funded through the "Fifty Cents for Life" motor vehicle tax.