Critical Care and Trauma Center
Contact: 1-855-WVU-CARE (2273)
Our Level II pediatric trauma center provides advanced, lifesaving care for children with traumatic injuries.
Traumatic injuries can happen at any time, to anyone. When caring for children with potentially life-changing or life-threatening injuries, quick assessments and treatments are critical.
WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s has the only pediatric trauma center in West Virginia verified by the American College of Surgeons, we provide comprehensive trauma care to children of all ages — from birth through adolescence.
Our team is part of the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center and is always ready to respond.
We’re also here to provide the emotional support your family needs during your child’s treatment and recovery.
When you choose WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s in an emergency, you can take comfort in knowing you are receiving complete and well-coordinated care from a team of trauma-trained experts.
Complete, Well-Coordinated Care
Our Trauma Center is home to a highly coordinated team of trauma-trained experts. We’re led by a trauma surgeon who works in conjunction with an emergency medicine physician and trauma advanced practice providers. We work together to rapidly diagnose and treat your child. The type of care your child will need depends on the type and severity of their injury. They may also receive care from many pediatric specialists including:
- Anesthesiologists
- Critical care physicians
- Plastic Surgeons
- Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
- Ophthalmologists
- Orthopedic surgeons
- Neurosurgeons
- Radiologists
- Urologists
- Cardiothoracic surgeons
- Vascular surgeons
Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery
If your child needs surgery, our state-of-the-art operating room with pediatric equipment is available 24/7.
Once your child is stable, they may also work with professionals specializing in injury prevention, rehabilitation, psychology, or social work.
Traumatic Injuries We Treat
Finding out your child needs emergency medical treatment is one of the most frightening and stressful moments a family can experience. But you can take comfort knowing our multispecialty team is available 24/7 and can handle even the most complex injuries.
These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Head injuries including skull fractures and bleeding in the brain
- Internal bleeding and other injuries, such as a collapsed lung or perforated bowel
- Orthopedic injuries such as amputated limbs, crush injuries, and numerous broken bones
- Penetrating wounds caused by animal bites or weapons
- Severe blood loss
- Spine fractures and spinal cord injuries
The WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Difference
We serve the entire region
Children throughout West Virginia and surrounding areas including Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Ohio are often transferred here for our advanced, around-the-clock pediatric trauma care.
We’re part of a statewide network
Not only are we an integral part of the state’s emergency care system, but we also partner with HealthNet Aeromedical Services to provide medical air transport. With flight bases throughout West Virginia and Kentucky, HealthNet can transfer children to our Trauma Center within minutes.
We have the state’s largest pediatric intensive care unit.
We understand the importance of emotional support
Our child life team can guide your child or family members through the emotional and psychological challenges of trauma care. Whether you need help understanding your child’s treatments or want someone to help distract your other children, we’re here to help.
We work to improve safety and outcomes
Our trauma program offers community outreach and education services to help prevent injuries before they occur. Our Injury Prevention and Safety Program teaches children and their caregivers how to stay safe by giving presentations at schools, health fairs, and other community events.
Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Program: A Unique Service
Medical transportation of children over substantial distances involves distinct challenges and requires specially trained teams of healthcare professionals. The WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Transport Teams provides a state-of-the-art mobile intensive care unit for transport of critically ill pediatric and neonatal patients to WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital in Morgantown.
Request the Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Team: 855-WVU-KIDS
Request the Maternal Transport Team: 844-WVU-MOMS
Available 24/7 and serving referral sites throughout West Virginia and the surrounding region, the WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s neonatal and pediatric transport service is the only unit in northern West Virginia dedicated exclusively to the transfer of children ranging in age from newborn to 18 years.
For babies and children (newborn to 18 years)
Calls to 855-WVU-KIDS are immediately connected to a physician specializing in pediatric intensive care or neonatology, a transport nurse, a transport respiratory specialist, a neonatal nurse practitioner, and a resident physician to help facilitate the highest level of care during the transfer.
This team uses the most up-to-date equipment, including invasive and non-invasive cardio-respiratory monitoring, ventilators, emergency medications, and chest drainage systems.
For expecting mothers
A specialized WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s transport care team is also available for the transfer of maternity patients experiencing a medical emergency. One call to 844-WVU-MOMS allows a team consisting of a physician, a maternal transport nurse, a pediatric transport nurse, and a respiratory therapist to efficiently facilitate care as maternal patients are brought to our Morgantown hospital.
Request the Maternal Transport Team: 844-WVU-MOMS