The greater Houston area has two Level I adult trauma centers. Trauma centers are designated between levels I to IV, with Level I being the highest level of care available.
Ben Taub Hospital, south of downtown, is a teaching hospital for Baylor University Med Students and offers Level I care.
Red Duke Trauma Institute at Texas Medical Center is also a Level I facility It has a helicopter to transport and transfer patients quickly to the hospital or to other hospitals. Memorial Hermann Life Flight performs more than 3,000 missions each year.
There are also four levels of Pediatric Hospital Trauma Centers from I to IV. The Houston area is home to two Level I Child Trauma Centers.
Ben Taub Hospital – Level I Adult Trauma Center
1504 Ben Taub Loop
Houston, TX 77030
Red Duke Trauma Institute – Level I Adult Trauma Center
At Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center
6411 Fannin St
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 704-4000
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital – Level I Children’s Trauma Center
6411 Fannin St
Houston TX 77030
(713) 704-5437
Texas Children’s Hospital – Level I Children’s Trauma Center
6621 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77030
832-824-1000
Level II Trauma Centers in the Houston Area
HCA Houston Clear Lake – Level II Trauma Center
500 Medical Center Blvd
Webster, TX 77598
(281) 332 – 2511
Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center – Level II Trauma Center
9250 Pinecroft Dr
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(713) 897-2300
Level III Trauma Centers in the Houston Area
St. Joseph Medical Center – Level III Trauma Center
St. Joseph Medical Center
1401 St. Joseph Parkway
Houston, TX 77002
713-757-1000
Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital – Level III Trauma Center
27800 Northwest Freeway
Cypress, TX 77433
(346) 231-4000
Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital — Level III Trauma Center
5656 Kelley Street
Houston, TX 77026
713-566-5100
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital – Level III Trauma Center
1635 North Loop W Fwy
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 867-2000
Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital – Level III Trauma Center
23900 Katy Fwy
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 644-7000
Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital – Level III Trauma Center
11800 Astoria Blvd
Houston, TX 77089
(281) 929-6100
Level IV Trauma Centers in Harris County & The Surrounding Area
Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center – Level IV Trauma Center
921 Gessner Rd
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 242-3000
Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital – Level IV Trauma Center
16100 South Fwy
Pearland, TX 77584
(713) 413-5000
Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital – Level IV Trauma Center
7600 Beechnut St
Houston, TX 77074
(713) 456-5000
Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital – Level IV Trauma Center
17500 West Grand Parkway South
Sugar Land, TX 77479
(281) 725-5000
St. Luke’s Health – Sugar Land Hospital Level IV Trauma Center
1317 Lake Pointe Pkwy
Sugar Land, TX 77478
(281) 637-7000
The Woman’s Hospital of Texas – Level IV Trauma Center
7600 Fannin
Houston, TX 77054
(713) 790-1234
Texas Children’s Hospital, West Campus – Level IV Pediatric Trauma Center
18200 Katy Fwy
Houston, TX 77094
832-227-1000
Texas Children’s Hospital, The Woodlands – Level IV Pediatric Trauma Center
17600 Interstate 45 South
The Woodlands, TX 77384
936-267-5000
What Are Trauma Centers?
Trauma Centers are often part of E-R departments in hospitals. They can focus on Adult care and/or pediatric care. With care and staffing that goes beyond normal emergency rooms, trauma centers are created to treat people with the worst injuries. These are major life-threatening injuries.
The injuries can be suffered in the blunt force trauma of a traffic collision or a fall from a great height. Patients who are shot or stabbed would be rushed to a trauma center. Heart attack and stroke victims may end up being saved by trauma center doctors. Burn victims would also likely be taken to a trauma center if one is available.
Trauma departments feature cutting-edge equipment and surgeons with a wide range of specialties, all available 24 hours a day. Their staff will include trauma and general surgeons, as well as specialists in all other areas of surgical expertise, including orthopedic, neurosurgery, radiology, plastic, oral maxillofacial, vascular, and thoracic. Trauma doctors and nurses must be available at a moment’s notice to assist patients.
Who Designates Texas Trauma Centers?
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has the authority to designate facilities. The DSHS has certified 300 trauma centers in our state.
The designations range from Level I to Level IV with Level I providing the best care available. There are 22 Level 1 Trauma Care facilities currently in Texas.
Comprehensive (Level I)
22 facilities currently designated
Major (Level II)
28 facilities currently designated
Advanced (Level III)
59 facilities currently designated
Basic (Level IV)
191 facilities currently designated
Level I Trauma Centers are often teaching hospitals affiliated with a medical school at a university. Level I facilities are required to be able to treat a badly injured patient throughout their entire recovery. Level II trauma centers have similar features to a Level I facility but generally do not have a partnership with a university. Level I and Level II Trauma Centers are often at the forefront of care during a disaster.
