The Real Impact of Trauma

Bodily injury is the leading cause of death and disability in young adults and is the fifth leading cause of death in all age groups. 

In the year 2000, more than 148,000 deaths in the United States were caused by injury resulting in treatment of 29.5 million people in the emergency room, one third of which required additional inpatient care. 

These injuries exact a high toll on our society, causing pain and suffering for family, friends and caregivers, as well as losses in productivity.  In addition, these injuries cost billions of dollars for medical treatment and rehabilitation. 

Injury-attributable medical expenditures cost as much as $117 billion in 2000 and approximately 10 percent of the total United States medical expenditures.

As a regional trauma center, WakeMed strives to save the lives of the seriously injured and ultimately return them back to productivity.  To do so, WakeMed works closely with Wake EMS, other first responders and surrounding medical care facilities in the first hours after injury to ensure that  severely injured patients have rapid access to the highest level of medical care.  The emergency room evaluation, operative care, critical care, acute care and rehabilitative care have all been integrated to optimize survival.