Trauma Care at Phoebe

Trauma: specialized care for victims of extreme injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Trauma is the leading cause of death for American children and adults ages 1 to 44, and the fourth leading cause of death for all ages.

At Phoebe Putney, dedicated trauma surgeons and specialists are available 24/7 to address each patient’s acuity. The center serves as a one-stop-shop where physicians and radiologists diagnose each patient and provide the level of medical intervention needed. Our trauma specialists understand that time is critical when caring for a trauma patient. That is why the moment first responders communicate they have you in route to our facility, we immediately activate the response team of appropriate experts and prepare our trauma rooms to be ready before you arrive.

Our goal is to be recognized by our patient’s and our peers, as the regional quality provider for trauma care. We strive to continually improve the quality of our trauma care and to provide comprehensive continual care that goes beyond life-threatening injury treatment to support services that help our trauma patients get back to everyday life with the best possible outcome.

What We Treat

We routinely treat patients injured in vehicle crashes, industrial accidents, violent assaults involving guns or knives, serious falls, impalements, other incidents that could be fatal or that could cause permanent, long-term, or serious disability. Our most common trauma cases involve:

  • Falls. Our patients have fallen from trees, deer stands, rooftops, construction sites, and ladders. Injuries can be as straightforward as broken bones or as complex as organ damage.
  • Motor vehicle crashes,are common. People involved in crashes often require special neurological, orthopedic, musculoskeletal, and psychological care.
  • Gunshot wounds, both intentional and accidental. These trauma cases are complex and often involve bleeding, broken bones, organ damage, infection, or paralysis.
  • Pedestrians struck by motor vehicles. Like motor vehicle crashes, injuries can be complex and life-threatening.
  • Assaults, such as beatings or encounters with large animals. These trauma cases typically involve different types of bone fractures, and often involve major injury to the hands or face.

Care & Treatment

For the best outcomes, trauma patients need a continuum of care that stabilizes those who are critically ill or injured, provides them with required medical care, then creates an environment that promotes healing and helps each patient to return to their normal lives. To ensure this comprehensive continuum of care, Phoebe offers:

Trauma Response

At Phoebe, dedicated trauma surgeons and specialists are available 24/7 to address each patient’s acuity. Our trauma response physicians and radiologists diagnose each patient and provide appropriate level of medical intervention.

Advanced Diagnostics

Trauma patients have immediate access to Southwest Georgia’s – most advanced rapid CT scanners and state-of-the-art imaging.

Interventional Treatment

Phoebe’s trauma team provides exceptional interventional care, whether it involves surgery performed by highly trained trauma surgeons or interventional radiology that can correct many injuries and conditions using minimally invasive procedures.

Intensive Care

Patients who need intensive care following their treatment have the benefit of access to two surgical intensive care units where intensivists provide critical care management for our trauma patients. Rehabilitation. Many trauma patients require ongoing occupational, physical, or speech therapy to recover from their injuries or conditions. Typically, rehabilitation services begin while patients are hospitalized at Phoebe and continue following their release.

Outpatient Care

Because trauma cases often have lasting impacts, we make sure that our trauma patients continue to be seen by physicians who specialize in trauma care. Additionally, we ensure every patient receives the ongoing support they need to resume their lives.

Support Service

Trauma injuries can take a serious toll on both patients and their families. That is why Phoebe provides support services to help patients, their families, and their friends get through the immediate shock and deal with the residual effects of a trauma.

  • 24-hour social workers
  • 24-hour language interpreters
  • Chaplains
  • Physical, speech, and occupational therapists