Our Trauma Team

The Borgess Trauma Team is a holistic, collaborative, coordinated and comprehensive interdisciplinary team committed to patients admitted to the hospital with traumatic injuries. The team evaluates, educates, and develops the patient’s plan of care with the patient’s and family members input. The team works to identify the patient’s potential for re-entry into their community by identifying appropriate programs and treatment options for discharge.

At trauma team meetings the trauma patient’s case is reviewed with input from all disciplines and patient/family. The goal of the team meetings is to provide optimal patient care and review the plan of care from all disciplines. After the trauma team meeting the plan of care is shared with the patient and family.

Trauma Team Members Include:

Trauma Surgeons - The Borgess Trauma Service is comprised of five board certified general surgeons with additional training in critical care and trauma.

Trauma Case Manger - The role of the Trauma Case Manager (TCM) is to coordinate the continuity of comprehensive care for the patient during the hospitalization by involving the patient, family, and team. The TCM works closely with all team members, patient and family to assure appropriate resources are utilized for the hospital stay, rehabilitation and home.

Nurses - The nurse provides continuous patient monitoring and nursing care from the emergency department, operating room, Surgical Trauma ICU, Neuro Care Unit, general floors, and through rehabilitation. The nurse provides ongoing assessment for actual and / or potential injuries.

Speech Language - Pathology Speech Language Pathology evaluates communication skills, and swallowing function for the patient. Upon completion of the evaluation Speech Language makes recommendations to the team in regards to equipment needs, discharge placement and the need for continued speech pathology services.

Occupational Therapy - The Occupational Therapist (OT) evaluates and treats the physical deficits resulting from an insult or injury. The OT provides the team with recommendations for rehabilitation based on the patient’s rehabilitation potential and results of the evaluation and treatments administered in the hospital.

Physical Therapy - The role of the Physical Therapist (PT) is that of evaluation and treatment of physical deficits resulting from insult or injury. The PT provides the team with recommendations for rehabilitation based on the patient’s rehabilitation potential and the results of the evaluation and treatments administered in the hospital.

Pediatric Hospitalist - For injured children and adolescents, our Pediatric Hospitalist team is a part of the trauma care team. A board-certified Pediatrician and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner evaluate and collaborate to ensure that physical, mental, and psychosocial needs of the child and family are met.

Dietitian - The role of the dietitian is to provide an appropriate dietary plan based upon the patient’s nutrition needs. The dietitian works with the team to recommend the appropriate method to deliver the nutrition needed to assist the patient in healing.

Clinical Pharmacist - The role of the Clinical pharmacist is to evaluate and make recommendations to the team for appropriate medications. The clinical pharmacist is key to monitoring and continued evaluation of the patient with complex needs.

Respiratory Therapy - The role of the Respiratory Therapist (RT) is to assess and evaluate the patient’s oxygenation needs. The RT makes recommendations to the team for both in hospital and post discharge equipment and treatment needs.

Trauma Nurse Coordinator - The Trauma Nurse Coordinator is responsible for the over all operation of the trauma center with the Trauma Medical Director. The TNC attends team rounds to collect patient data and assist the team with availability of resources as required by the American College of Surgeons.

Pastoral Care - The Chaplin provides spiritual and emotional support to the patient and family. They assist the team with addressing the emotional needs of the patient and family.

Medical Social Worker - The Medical Social Worker (MSW) is responsible for providing initial psychological assessment and crisis intervention. The MSW also fulfills the role of the coordinating continuing care as the patient is readied for discharge.

Neuropsychologist - The role of the neuropsychologist is to provide psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, and ongoing supportive services for the patient and family. The neuropsychologist makes recommendations to the team on treatment needs.