- Emergency care
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Overview
Located in the Pavilion for Advanced Care at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Penn’s Level 1 Trauma Center serves as a vital gateway for traumatically injured patients, offering vast resources, the latest technology, and expertly trained staff.
A Level 1 Trauma Center designation means that we have every available resource needed to provide total care for any aspect of severe injuries. Our building is designed to get a critical patient from the helipad to one of our trauma bays in just over 1 minute.
Each year, we treat more than 3,000 traumatically injured and critically ill patients. We offer the most advanced specialty care in the region, resulting in exceptional patient outcomes that rank well above national averages.
Our Trauma Center also has one of the highest rates of patient transfers in the region. In 2024, of the 3,113 patients cared for, 931 were transferred to Penn Medicine from other hospitals. This marked the highest number of transfers since opening in 1987.
Transfer a patient
Call 877-937-7366 to contact our trauma team. You will be connected with the Trauma Attending Physician to discuss the case. Once the patient is accepted, we will work with you to arrange expedited transport to the Trauma Center.
Before transferring your patient
- Obtain transfer consent by having the patient or authorized family member sign an EMTALA-compliant transfer form.
- Prepare a copy of the patient’s chart, including all pertinent diagnostic and radiologic studies to send with the patient when they are transferred.
Complete the following steps if you choose to transfer yourself or a loved one to Penn’s Level 1 Trauma Center from another hospital.
- Discuss your choice to transfer yourself or your loved one with the care team at your current hospital.
- The doctor at your current place of care must facilitate the transfer by calling 877-937-7366.
- Once we accept your transfer, we will help arrange transport to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center as quickly as possible. Whether the transport is by ambulance or helicopter depends on the transport’s distance and individual care needs.
- After the transfer, loved ones can call 215-662-8000 and ask to be connected to the patient’s unit for an update.