Provides comprehensive trauma care, serves as a regional resource, and provides leadership in education, research, and system planning.

A level I center is required to have immediate availability of trauma surgeons, anesthesiologists, physician specialists, nurses, and resuscitation equipment. American College of Surgeons' volume performance criteria further stipulate that level I centers treat 1200 admissions a year or 240 major trauma patients per year or an average of 35 major trauma patients per surgeon.

Provides comprehensive trauma care either as a supplement to a level I trauma center in a large urban area or as the lead hospital in a less population-dense area.

Level II centers must meet essentially the same criteria as level I but volume performance standards are not required and may depend on the geographic area served. Centers are not expected to provide leadership in teaching and research.

Provides prompt assessment, resuscitation, emergency surgery, and stabilization with transfer to a level I or II as indicated.

Level III facilities typically serve communities that do not have immediate access to a level I or II trauma center.

Provides advanced trauma life support prior to patient transfer in remote areas in which no higher level of care is available.

The key role of the level IV center is to resuscitate and stabilize patients and arrange for their transfer to the closest, most appropriate trauma center level facility.

Level V trauma centers are not formally recognized by the American College of Surgeons, but they are used by some states to further categorize hospitals providing life support prior to transfer.