St. John’s Mercy Level III Trauma Center

The state of Missouri designated the St. John’s Mercy Hospital Emergency department as a Level III trauma center in 1997. As the only Level III trauma center between St. Louis and Jefferson City, St. John’s Mercy boasts an experienced staff of emergency physicians, trauma nurses, trauma surgeons and anesthesiologists specially trained in trauma care.

While many hospital emergency departments treat only minor injuries such as cuts and breaks, trauma centers are capable of providing a higher level of care. As a Level III trauma center, St. John’s Mercy has 24-hour access to an in-house emergency physician, trauma surgeon, and anesthesiologist, in addition to intensive care services and orthopedic surgeons. Level I and Level II trauma centers have access to more specialists and sub-specialists, while Level I trauma centers have a strong focus on teaching and research.

HEAD SAFE Program

Statistics show that head injury is the most common cause of death and serious disability in individuals involved in bicycle accidents. That’s why St. John’s Mercy Hospital developed HEAD SAFE.

HEAD SAFE is an educational program that promotes bicycle safety and helmet awareness to students in the hospital’s service region. The goal of the program is to decrease the number of traumatic head injuries or deaths associated with bicycle accidents among children and adolescents.

During the past year, St. John’s Mercy has taken its HEAD SAFE message to approximately 4,000 students in 21 area schools in Franklin and Gasconade County. To date, the HEAD SAFE program has donated more than 1,800 safety helmets to students on behalf of St. John’s Mercy.

Since the program’s inception, St. John’s Mercy has experienced a 65 percent decrease in bicycle-related injuries treated in the Emergency department.

Bicycling Statistics and Safety Advice