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Trauma Care

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Journey to Level II Trauma Center

Join us on our journey to becoming an American College of Surgeons (ACS) verified Level II Trauma Center, the ACS’ highest ranking for a community hospital and only the second Level II Trauma Center in the state. Read more here.

Prepared for the unexpected

Maui Memorial Medical Center provides immediate, lifesaving care for all injured patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our team delivers the highest level of trauma care through compassion, excellence, and continuous quality improvement. We have trauma surgeons available 24/7, as well as coverage by the specialties of Orthopedics, Cardiothoracic, Neurosurgery, Critical Care, Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, ENT, Interventional Radiology, Eye Care and Plastic Surgery.

In 2013, Maui Memorial Medical Center was designated by the Hawaii State Department of Health as a Level III Trauma Center.

If you are a health-related professional from a transferring facility and would like to transfer a trauma patient, please call 808-242-2095.

What to expect from injury to arrival at Maui Memorial Medical Center

When a 9-1-1 call is received, the dispatchers send local fire departments and ambulances to the scene. Paramedics/emergency medical technicians (EMT) examine the patient’s injuries and are trained to recognize injuries that may be better treated at a trauma center.

Per directives from the Paramedics/EMT command center, severely injured patients will be brought directly to Maui Memorial Medical Center. When appropriate, a helicopter may be used to move a patient from the scene or transferring hospital. If you are from a neighbor island, you may be transported to your local hospital for stabilization before being sent to Maui Memorial Medical Center.

What to expect when you arrive at Maui Memorial Medical Center

Emergency Department

On arrival at Maui Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department (ED), patients are met by a team of clinicians that are experienced in trauma care. Our trauma team includes trauma surgeons, emergency room physicians, trauma certified nurses, emergency room technicians, X-ray, respiratory therapy and lab technicians. A collaborative approach facilitates getting trauma patients to definitive care as soon as possible.

Intensive Care

Our Intensive Care Unit is staffed 24/7 with Critical Care Physicians who work collaboratively with the trauma surgeons to provide the best care possible and optimize healing. Due to the pandemic, no visitors are allowed, but if a patient is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, visitation will be addressed on a case-by-case basis situation.

Family Care

Maui Memorial Medical Center understands the importance of family in the healing process. Every effort will be made to keep family members advised of the patient’s condition once the patient has been properly assessed and stabilized in the Emergency Department.

At this critical time, no visitors will be allowed entry (see our visitor guidance for more information). If you have important information about the patient’s medical history, allergies, and medications, or if you witnessed the incident, please let the nurses know as soon as possible so this can be relayed to the trauma team.

CLICK HERE FOR THE TEMPORARY VISITING GUIDELINES DURING COVID-19

What to expect when you are transferred from Maui Memorial Medical Center

Trauma patients from outlying facilities in our region may be transferred to Maui Memorial Medical Center for a higher level of care. Outer island transfers are triaged by our trauma surgeons to ensure that the patients can receive the best care possible with the resources we have available. If patients need services that Maui Memorial Medical Center does not provide, they will be transferred to another facility for care.

Maui Memorial Medical Center does not have a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Children with serious burns or injuries will be stabilized and transferred to a facility that specializes in care for severely injured children. A process is in place to rapidly transport critically injured children.

What to expect when patients are discharged to leave

Discharge planning begins on the day of admission – The patients’ needs are evaluated constantly until the day of discharge from the hospital. Doctors, nurses, case managers and social workers along with the patient and family, work together for a smooth transition back home or to the next phase of care. If help is needed at home, the discharge team may assist in setting up home health or other home care. Some patients are discharged from the hospital to a rehab center or skilled nursing home to continue their recovery.

If they have suffered a significant injury, it may take several weeks or even months to heal. If pain or discomfort continues, prescriptions for pain medication will be provided on the day of discharge. Caregivers will provide instructions on how to manage pain and pain medication before leaving the hospital. Before going home, a follow-up appointment may be made with a primary care or referring doctor. If pain continues, patients should contact communicate with doctor during their follow-up visit.

Community outreach

We are committed to community education to help keep families safe and minimize the incidence of preventable injuries. We are proud to participate in the following programs:

Stop the Bleed

Stop the Bleed is a valuable course offered by our Level III Trauma Center staff to individuals and community groups to help save lives through bleeding control. Trauma is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Unfortunately, trauma victims may bleed to death before reaching the hospital. When used properly, bleeding control measures, such as tourniquets and wound packing, may give the victim lifesaving time to be transported to the hospital to receive treatment.

If you are interested in a Stop the Bleed training for your workplace or organization, click here to schedule or contact our Trauma Department at 808-442-5973.

Schedule a training

Stay Active to Prevent Falls

Do you limit your activity because you are afraid of falling? Our Matter of Balance class is just the class for you. In this class we come up with strategies to

Sign up here.

Virtual Trauma Community Health Fair

Maui Health’s Trauma Medical Director Dr. Art Chasen and Emergency Medicine Physician, Dr. David Williams, along with the Maui Police Department, Maui Driving School, and several other community partners came together to provide information, education and tips, and real-life stories and testimonials at our first Virtual Trauma Community Health Fair. Learn about the consequences of drunk and impaired driving and the most common trauma injuries on Maui — Click here to watch the recording.

Click for more community education

Resources for trauma patients and families

As you recover from trauma injury, we encourage you and your family members to explore the following online resources to assist you:

Trauma Survivors Network- https://www.traumasurvivorsnetwork.org/pages/home

Neurotrauma Program- https://health.hawaii.gov/nt/

Brain Injury Association of Hawaii- https://www.biausa.org/find-bia/hawaii

Mental health and substance use call center- https://hicares.hawaii.gov/

Domestic violence resources- https://www.hscadv.org/get-help/#by-region

Department of Human Services- https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/

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