How are trauma patients managed at Wake Forest?
We believe in the “team” approach here at Wake Forest, not “us versus them”. Our trauma team is made up of emergency physicians and trauma surgeons. Our trauma center is certified as both a level one adult and pediatric trauma center and continues to be one of the busiest trauma centers in NC. Our residents have a different role on the trauma team in each year of their training. During the internship, our residents rotate on the trauma service for an entire month. During this time, they have the same roles and responsibilities of any surgical intern. They care for patients on the floor, Trauma ICU, and Burn Unit. They function as an integral member of the team during trauma resuscitations in the ED often responsible for securing central venous access and insertion of chest tubes, while learning the ABC’s of trauma management. Our second year ED resident is responsible for managing the trauma airways, not Anesthesia. Our residents receive extensive training on “difficult” airway managem
