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Lee Health Trauma Facts

Gulf Coast Medical Center's Trauma Center

Trauma Fast Facts

  • Lee Health's Trauma Center is the only trauma center between Sarasota and Miami. It is one of 36 trauma centers in Florida.
  • Nationally, trauma is the No. 1 killer for ages 1-46, with a secondary peak after the age of 65.
  • The "Golden Hour" is the first hour after a patient's injury. This is the most critical period that could be the difference between life or death.
  • More than 275,000 (one person every 3 minutes) people lose their lives to trauma in the United States each year. (CDC)
  • Lee Health's Trauma Center cares for approximately 3.986 traumatically injured patients each year.
  • National studies show that patient mortality and morbidity is reduced by 20-25 percent when a patient is treated for traumatic injuries and is cared for in a trauma system rather than a non-trauma system.
  • The average length of stay in a trauma center is less than eight days.
  • Florida is divided into 19 trauma service areas, some of which have no active trauma center.
  • Motor vehicle crashes make up more than 50 percent of all trauma cases in Florida.
  • About 19.4 percent of patients who enter a standard emergency room are uninsured. About 15.1 percent of patients who enter a trauma center are uninsured.
  • There are more than 1 million residents in the Lee County Trauma Services District area.

Learn More About Lee Health Trauma

  • People holding hands

    Support Groups and Mentoring

    Our Outreach Services provide additional support and help improve outcomes for trauma patients and families.

  • CPR training group

    Trauma Programs

    Lee Health Trauma Center offers free community education programs to prevent injury.

  • Hand injury, trauma resource

    Trauma Resources

    The resources can help get you started on your journey toward understanding and coping after your traumatic injury.