The Spirit of Charity Trauma Center is the only Level 1 trauma center serving the New Orleans metro area and Southeast Louisiana
Located at the new University Medical Center (formerly Charity Hospital) in downtown New Orleans, we provide the highest level of trauma care available. All seriously injured patients in the metro area are preferentially transported to us, often bypassing other hospitals if necessary. We offer the advantage of 24-hour availability of an in-house trauma surgeon and anesthesiologist, as well as immediate access to orthopedic trauma specialists and neurosurgeons. Time is of the essence in managing major trauma, and an operating room is always kept available for those patients requiring immediate surgical intervention.
Our nursing staff is the most experienced in the region in treating the seriously injured trauma patient and provides the highest quality of care, from the Emergency Department to the operating room to the Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
Once the patient is stable, our rehabilitation specialists, including physical and occupational therapists and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physicians begin the challenging work of transitioning the patient back to functional status.
Our original trauma center was located in Charity Hospital and was formally accredited by the ACS in 1996. Once Charity was closed after Hurricane Katrina, we relocated briefly to Elmwood, spent several years at ILH, and.relocated to the new University Medical Center (UMC) on August 1, 2015. The new trauma center is named "The Norman E. McSwain, Jr. Spirit of Charity Trauma Center" to honor both the tradition of outstanding trauma care at Big Charity as well as the trauma surgeon who made us what we are today. The building we work in may have changed, but the spirit and dedication of our employees to providing outstanding trauma care is as strong as ever.
We are the only hospital providing Level 1 trauma care to the 10-Parish area of metro New Orleans, including Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. Tammany, Washington, Tangipahoa, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John Parishes. Additionally we treat trauma patients with complex injuries who are transferred to us from outlying facilities throughout South Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.
We also are actively involved in training the next generation of physicians, nurses, and paraprofessionals in the management of major trauma. Institutions and specialities teaching and training at our trauma center include: the LSU and Tulane Departments of Surgery, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Urology, and ENT; the LSU Departments of Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; LSU and Charity/Delgado Schools of Nursing and Allied Health; and Xavier Pharmacy.
Our trauma department maintains a very active and successful trauma outreach program. The goal of our community outreach program is to enhance community awareness of injury prevention strategies. We invite local high school classes to visit our trauma center, organize mock crashes at local schools to highlight the dangers of driving under the influence, and sponsor child safety seat educational programs.
