Trauma History and Statistics
Carilion: Virginia's First Level I Trauma Center
Carilion Clinic is proud to have been the first Level I trauma center in Virginia—the highest designation of trauma care—and we have continued to provide comprehensive access to trauma services and specialists since 1983.
Over the past decade, the volume of trauma care cases at Carilion Clinic has increased by more than 120 percent. Since 2001, trauma patient volume has increased by approximately 100 patients each year.
Part of this rise in trauma cases is a result of the aging of the American population. In fact, the greatest increase in the trauma population was in senior citizens. This population of patients generally requires more care for similar injuries than younger patients because of their other medical conditions.
While the number of trauma care patients is rising, so, too, is the severity of cases, with most injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes and falls. Despite this increase, Carilion has been able to reduce both mortality rates and the average length of time spent in the hospital.
Trauma Statistics
Mechanism of Injury
Trauma cases are generally divided into three main categories:
- Trauma by blunt mechanisms (e.g. motor vehicle crashes, falls, bike accidents)
- Trauma by penetrating mechanisms (e.g. firearms, knives)
- Trauma due to burn injuries
During fiscal year 2010 (Oct. 2009-Sept. 2010), over 75 percent of Carilion Clinic’s trauma patients were injured from blunt mechanisms. This included:
- Motor vehicle crashes: 37%
- Falls: 30%
- Motorcycle crashes: 8%
- Stabbings: 3%
- Gunshots: 3%
- Pedestrian accidents: 3%
- Other blunt causes: 16%
Trauma by Age
During fiscal year 2010, patients of all ages were treated for trauma at Carilion Clinic.
- Age 0-9: 3%
- Age 10-19: 10%
- Age 20-29: 16%
- Age 30-39: 13%
- Age 40-49: 15%
- Age 50-59: 15%
- Age 60-69: 10%
- Age 70+: 18%
Though senior citizens account for a large portion of the trauma patients seen at Carilion Clinic, these figures indicate that younger, more active people are also frequently in need of trauma services.
More data about trauma services is available on both the the state and national level. View the following sites to learn more:
Carilion Clinic Location Information
