About the American College of Surgeons Nationally-Verified Level 1 Trauma Center Designation

Established by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in 1987, the ACS Committee on Trauma’s Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers that provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients.

While trauma centers are established and designated by local, regional, or state agencies, the ACS Committee on Trauma’s verification program provides confirmation that the center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest-quality trauma care for all patients.

Verified trauma centers must meet essential criteria that ensures trauma care capability and institutional performance as outlined by the ACS Committee on Trauma in its current Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient manual.

There are five separate categories of verification in the COT’s program with Level I being the highest. The different category levels (I, II, III, IV, or V) reflect the resources available in a trauma center and the number of patients admitted yearly. Each category has its own specific standards that must be met by the trauma center.