Trauma Services: Injury Prevention, Community Outreach, Education

At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, our dedicated Trauma Services team is committed to providing exceptional care to every patient. But our commitment doesn't stop within the hospital walls. We're deeply invested in serving our community through injury prevention, education, and outreach programs designed to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy. We believe that preventing injuries is just as important as treating them.

Do you have questions about our community outreach efforts or injury prevention programs? We'd love to connect you with resources and information.

Our trauma team is involved in a variety of initiatives designed to keep our community safe and informed. Here are some of the ways we're working to make a difference:

• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Program: This program teaches health care professionals a systematic and concise approach to caring for trauma patients. It's a 1.5-day hybrid student course. Learn more

• EMS Education: We partner with local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to provide ongoing education and support, ensuring they have the latest knowledge and skills to respond to emergencies effectively. 

• Fall Prevention: Falls are a leading cause of injury, especially among older adults. We are proud and active members of the Pierce County Fall Coalition and King County Fall Prevention Coalition, working to raise awareness and implement strategies to prevent falls in our community. 
   
  
  • Read: Facts about falls from the CDC
  • Fall Prevention Program Locator (specific to King County)

• Stop the Bleed Courses: In an emergency, knowing how to control bleeding can save a life. Minutes count when someone is severely bleeding, and that's why we offer STOP THE BLEED® training. This course teaches you how to control bleeding until professional help arrives. If you're interested in having our team teach a Stop the Bleed course for your group or organization, please contact us.
  

• Vehicle Safety: We're committed to keeping our roads safe for everyone.

  • Impact Teen Drivers Program: We support the Impact Teen Drivers program, which aims to reduce teen driver crashes through education and awareness. 
    

• Violence and Suicide Prevention: We are committed to violence and suicide prevention using a public health approach focused on preventing gun violence, reducing suicide, and responding to human trafficking. Learn more.

We'd love to connect with you! Our trauma team attends conferences and community events throughout the year. Check back here for updates on where you can find us.

We understand that having a loved one in the trauma center can be a stressful experience. We're here to support you and your family.

• If a loved one is transferred to our Level II Trauma Center at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, please call 253-426-4100 for more information. We are here to help.

• Follow-up Trauma Care Clinic: Caring for our patients doesn't end after hospital discharge. For information about our follow-up trauma care clinic, please call 253-426-6272.

Trauma Survivors Network: Recovering from a traumatic injury is a process that benefits greatly from connection and understanding. Our Trauma Survivors Network (TSN) is your gateway to a compassionate community, offering peer support, educational materials, and practical resources specifically designed for trauma patients and their families. Find strength in solidarity. Learn more.

• American Trauma Society
• Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
• Brain Injury Alliance of Washington
• Brain Injury Association of America
• Child Passenger Safety Program (WA)
• Society of Trauma Nurses
• StopOverdose.org
• Trauma Survivors Network
• Washington Traffic Safety Commission
• Washington DOH Suicide Prevention Crisis Information