Locations:
SearchCenter will treat adults and children with critical injuries
CLEVELAND: Cleveland Clinic is pursuing the establishment of a Level I trauma center for adults and children at its Main Campus.
Level I trauma centers provide the highest level of care for severely injured patients, offering access to specialized surgeons, physicians and critical care specialists at all times.
“Cleveland Clinic is committed to providing the highest quality care to all patients and expanding our capacity to care for critically ill and injured patients,” said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President and Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair of Cleveland Clinic. “Adding a Level I trauma center to our Main Campus will extend our world-class care to patients in need of trauma care, provide continuity of care for our patients, and help us better meet the needs of our community.”
Cleveland Clinic currently operates a Level I trauma center at Akron General Hospital and Level II trauma centers at Hillcrest, Fairview and Mercy hospitals for adult patients.
“Within our health system, we’ve observed a need for trauma care,” said Scott Steele, M.D., President of the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Submarket. “We currently have the ability to care for a wide range of patient conditions; however, Level I pediatric and adult trauma care is a gap at our Main Campus. This would allow us to fulfill the full spectrum of our patients' needs.”
Pending recommendations from our upcoming consultation site visit with the American College of Surgeons in 2026, plans could include an expansion of the Main Campus Emergency Department to accommodate a new trauma center, as well as the hiring of trauma experts and training current caregivers.
“Cleveland Clinic already treats some of the most complex patients,” said Miguel Regueiro, M.D., Chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Digestive Disease Institute, who will be one of the leaders of the center. “We know that reducing the risks associated with transfers outside of a health system supports safer treatment for patients in critical condition. We will ensure our team has the best training, equipment, and resources available. In addition, the opening of Cleveland Clinic’s new neurological building in 2027 will further support our ability to care for these patients.”
Level I trauma centers have multidisciplinary, comprehensive emergency medical resources and capabilities to treat critical injuries threatening life or limbs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, trauma is a leading cause of death for individuals aged 1-44. Level I trauma centers treat injuries such as:
Data from the Northern Ohio Trauma System show that falls (61%) and motor vehicle collisions (15%) made up the majority of traumas in our region in 2024.
Level I trauma centers also conduct ongoing research, train healthcare providers, serve as a teaching hospital, participate in quality improvement programs, and offer community public health education including injury prevention.
Cleveland Clinic will continue to work with local government, community leaders, accreditation and certification organizations, and various internal departments over the next two years to prepare for and establish the center, with the goal of opening in 2028.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 82,600 employees worldwide are more than 5,786 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,700 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,728-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 280 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2024, there were 15.7 million outpatient encounters, 333,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 320,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 112 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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