A comprehensive trauma care system includes ensuring the right patient is taken to the right hospital in the right amount of time to give them the greatest chance of survival.

It is the goal of the statewide trauma care system to integrate all hospital facilities into an inclusive network in order to provide definitive care to all injured patients in Wisconsin. Wisconsin promotes an inclusive trauma care system by the concept that every hospital has a designated role in the trauma system and will be able to provide or facilitate the delivery of optimal care necessary to the traumatically injured patient.

According to Wisconsin Statute 146.56 and Wisconsin Administrative Rule HFS 118, all hospitals shall declare their current trauma care capabilities to the Department of Health and Family Services within 180 days of the effective date of the rule, which is January 1, 2005.

The identification of trauma care facilities will occur through the state designation/classification process.

While all hospitals are invited and encouraged to apply for state designation as a trauma facility, participation remains voluntary. To apply for this designation/classification you need to complete the

• Trauma Care Facility Classification / Designation Application - DPH 07479 (Word fillable or  PDF - 33 KB) and 
• Level III and IV Hospital Assessment and Classification Criteria checklist - DPH 07480 (Word fillable or PDF - 106 KB).  

Users are encouraged to thoroughly read the instructions attached to the application before proceeding.

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