Emergency Department and Trauma Center

Video: Why choose Children's Wisconsin for emergency care

Level I pediatric trauma center

Car crashes. Water accidents. Falls. Fire. Violence. When the worst happens, our Level I pediatric Trauma Center is ready to swiftly respond to a child’s immediate crisis. The American College of Surgeons only grants the Level I designation to hospitals that provide the highest quality of care and meet certain criteria.

Led by a pediatric trauma surgeon, our trauma team includes pediatric physicians, nurses and other staff from the Emergency Department, critical care, operating room and transport team. The transport team, which brings more than 1,000 critically ill or injured kids to Children’s Wisconsin by ambulance, helicopter and fixed-wing plane every year, provides ICU-level care before patients even arrive. Children’s Wisconsin also has a surgeon on call 24/7 to consult with care providers at other hospitals.

Only the highest level of care

The trauma medical director, an advanced practice nurse and quality improvement nurse monitor care of every injured patient. They discuss all the critical issues with the care team and refer patients to a trauma physician or a trauma committee made up of experts from multiple specialties to ensure the best care.

Minimizing radiation exposure

If your child requires imaging tests like X-rays or a CT scan, we make sure that they’re exposed to the smallest amount of radiation possible. We have the latest technology and equipment to offer the lowest doses of radiation — three times less than the standard doses at adult hospitals. If you want your child treated at Children’s, ask your local hospital to transfer your child before any non-urgent diagnostic care is provided. Learn more about our Imaging Department.

Avoiding the operating room when we can 

We never want to put your child through unnecessary surgery. In Children’s EDTC, 95% of spleen injuries, 99% of liver injuries and 100% of renal injuries are treated successfully without surgery.

Mental and behavioral health support 

We care about your child’s entire well-being. We screen for acute stress related to injury and other emotional-behavioral issues, including suicide risk and drug/alcohol use, and offer mental/behavioral health support as needed. For kids who arrive at our EDTC in the midst of a mental health crisis, our mental health emergency response team is available 24/7 to provide immediate and coordinated assessment, referral and treatment, including post-discharge care for as long as needed.

Preventing future injuries

Our team works closely with the Safety Center on prevention efforts. Working collaboratively, we provide injury prevention messaging and safety products to help keep Wisconsin’s children safe and healthy.

We also help reduce the cycle of violent crimes through Project Ujima, which supports youth victims of violence who come to Children’s EDTC.