Blount Memorial's emergency department is one of only 11 trauma centers in Tennessee.

Tennessee’s trauma care system plan serves Tennessee and supports eight neighboring states. The system was implemented in 1988 with the designation of 11 trauma centers.

The state's trauma system is a regionalized, coordinated effort integrated within the local Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system. It was organized to deliver the full range of care to all injured patients in Tennessee.

Demographics and geography helped determine the trauma system structure and function.  The state’s five urban areas (Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville,

Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities area in northeast Tennessee) all are affiliated with medical schools that operate Level I trauma centers, and all have associated helicopter ambulance services. Most residents in the state are within 100 air miles from a Level I trauma center.

For Blount County residents, the closest Level I trauma center is located in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Blount Memorial's emergency department is a Level III trauma center.

Here's a brief explanation of the Level I, II and III trauma center designations:

Level I

A Level I trauma center has a full range of specialists and equipment available 24 hours a day and admits a minimum required annual volume of severely injured

patients.  Additionally, a Level I center has a program of research, is a leader in trauma education and injury prevention, and is a referral resource for

communities in neighboring regions.

Level II

A Level II trauma center works in collaboration with a Level I center.  It provides comprehensive trauma care and supplements the clinical expertise of a Level I

institution.

Level II trauma centers also provide 24-hour availability of all essential specialties, personnel and equipment. Minimum volume requirements may depend on

local conditions.  These institutions are not required to have an ongoing program of research or a surgical residency program.

Level III

A Level III trauma center does not have the full availability of specialists, but does have resources for the emergency resuscitation, surgery and intensive care of

most trauma patients.

Level III centers have transfer agreements with Level I and/or Level II trauma centers that provide back-up resources for the care of exceptionally severe injuries.

Listed below are Tennessee's 11 designated trauma centers:

Level I Trauma Centers

Chattanooga

Erlanger Medical Center
Trauma Service
975 E. Third St.
Chattanooga, TN 37405

Johnson City

Johnson City Medical Center Hospital
400 State of Franklin Road
Johnson City, TN 37601

Kingsport

Wellmont Holston Valley
Medical Center
130 West Ravine Road
Kingsport, TN 37660

Knoxville

The University of Tennessee Medical Center
Trauma Center
1924 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville, TN 37920

Memphis

Regional Medical Center at Memphis
Presley Trauma Center
877 Jefferson Ave.
Memphis, TN 38103

Nashville

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Division of Trauma
1161 22nd Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37232

Level II Trauma Centers

Bristol

Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center
1 Medical Park Blvd.
Bristol, TN 37620

Level III Trauma Centers

Athens

Athens Regional Medical Center
1114 W. Madison Ave.
Athens, TN 37303-4150

Cleveland

Bradley Memorial Hospital
2305 Chambliss Ave.
Cleveland, TN 37311

Etowah

Woods Memorial Hospital District
Highway 411 North
Etowah, TN 37331

Maryville

Blount Memorial Hospital
907 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway
Maryville, TN 37801-5193

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