A trauma center focused only on kids: Kids are not just mini adults — so their emergency care should be treated accordingly. A Pediatric Trauma Center is distinguished from other facilities in that it guarantees the immediate availability of specialized pediatric clinicians.

Plus, as the only pediatric hospital in the region recognized by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, we offer the highest classification of trauma care.  That means day or night, we are here to provide the highest level of trauma care available for your child, including 24/hour access to:

We never stop improving

As part of our commitment to the highest level of trauma care possible, we work to continually improve critical elements such as:

  • Triage at the initial scene of the incident

  • Pre-hospital care while in transport

  • Acute hospital care

  • Rehabilitation

  • Injury prevention

  • Burn treatment

High-volume expertise

We see approximately 58,000 patients in the Emergency Department each year. Approximately 1,500 of those cases are injury-related — from minor to severe — including head injury, burns and orthopedic injuries. St. Louis Children’s Hospital has been a designated Pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center since 1981 in Missouri and since 2011 in Illinois.

Addressing emotional needs

We know that being in a hospital can be scary for a child anytime — and especially after a traumatic experience. That’s why we focus on the emotional well-being of the child and family, as a regular part of our family-centered care. We offer access to chaplains, child life specialists, social services, and psychologists to address your emotional needs.

Access to pediatric specialists

Traumatically injured children may also require care from specialty medical services within St. Louis Children’s Hospital. All of these specialists have training specifically in treating children. These specialties include:

Pediatric replantation and revascularization services

We are the only pediatric center in the region providing replantation and revascularization services 24/7. These services can potentially save fingers or other body parts that are lost during a traumatic incident.

Specialized trauma programs

We have highly specialized trauma programs to continue the care your child needs beyond the emergency room. These programs include: