As you would imagine, many people injured in car crashes or other traumatic events don’t remember much, if anything, about their experience as a patient in the Trauma Resuscitation Unit (TRU) in the Emergency Department or the Trauma Intensive Care Unit.
That’s not always a bad thing, but at the Level I trauma center at University Hospital, we often hear from recovered patients who would like to meet the people who saved their lives.
That’s why during Trauma Awareness Month in May, this team celebrates Trauma Survivors’ Day as an opportunity to connect patients with the nurses, physicians, physician assistants, technicians and all of the many people who work in the TRU.
The event is also about honoring the people and families who have experienced trauma firsthand.
Coming back to the hospital as a much healthier person to share a luncheon with their caregivers can be an important step in the road to recovery.
The emotional nourishment goes both ways. Trauma teams truly value a chance to see the result of their lifesaving work. For trauma providers who care for critically injured patients every day, seeing patients whole again can be a powerful affirmation of why they do what they do.
Trauma Survivors’ Day also demonstrates the importance of a Level I trauma center as part of a comprehensive regional trauma system. Together, partners, providers and patients are living proof of the importance and the impact of this system, and the many dedicated and highly skilled professionals who have made trauma their life’s work.