Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Approach to the Pediatric Trauma

When a child is injured, the Pediatric Trauma Program at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital offers immediate, expert treatment for seriously injured children and support for their families.

We are fully equipped to resuscitate and stabilize badly injured children with all types of injuries, ranging from minor sprains and fractures to life-threatening, critical multi-system injuries  in the shortest time possible. Injured children arrive in our Emergency Department by ambulance or helicopter to be treated by our trauma care specialists.

Injury Prevention Program

We want to help families prevent injuries from happening in the first place. Our Injury Prevention Program provides community education, equipment and resources to help reduce the number of children who get hurt. We teach children and families how to be safe at home, at play and on the go.

Pediatric Specialists

Our specialists include doctors with special training in pediatric:

• Emergency Medicine
• Surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Critical Care
• Radiology
• Anesthesiology

Depending on the injury, we also work with surgeons who specialize in pediatric:

• Urology
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat)
• Ophthalmology (eye and vision)

Why Choose Penn State Health Children's Hospital for Care?

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital has the only Level I pediatric trauma center serving the 10-county area of south-central Pennsylvania. It has been accredited by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation since 1993 and has been a Level I pediatric trauma center since 2008.

Being a Level I accredited trauma center means we are recognized as being experts in managing a child's serious, sudden injuries. This ranges from broken bones to life-threatening problems. Our pediatric specialists are available 24 hours a day to offer immediate treatment to injured children of all ages.

Conditions Treated

We provide care for:

• Brain injuries
• Concussions
• Trauma
• Other serious injuries

Support Groups

Support groups provide children and their families an opportunity to connect with others in similar situations. Learn more about the support groups offered at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

View All Support Groups

Trauma Survivor Network (TSN)

Our pediatric trauma center is aligned with the Trauma Survivor Network (TSN). This is a partnership with the American Trauma Society to help survivors and their families rebuild their lives after experiencing a traumatic injury. We offer programs and connections that support recovery in the healing process, including both inpatient and outpatient support to help survivors and families. For more information, contact Beverly Shirk, BSN RN the TSN site coordinator at 717-531-3885, or bshirk1@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.