As the primary adult trauma resource center for the State of Maryland, the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center's mission is to save lives and reduce the disability of critically ill and injured persons in greater Maryland. The Trauma Center recognizes that there are times when victim entrapment will delay transport to definitive care. In these circumstances, the Trauma Center maintains an advanced resuscitative team capable of responding to the scene of seriously injured patients. This physician-led team complements Maryland's Statewide EMS System by providing critical care and surgical services that are typically considered beyond the scope of prehospital emergency care.
Scene incident commanders may request a GO-TEAM response for patients with suspected life-threatening injuries when extrication times are estimated to exceed one hour.
In situations where preliminary reports suggest that a victim's condition may require the GO-TEAM, but the extent of the rescue operation is unknown, a request can be made to put the Team on alert. The purpose of the alert status is to reduce the Team's response time. In this circumstance, the Team would be assembled but not dispatched until an initial on-scene assessment determines that the Team is needed.
When dispatched, the GO-TEAM serves as a specialized component of Maryland's statewide emergency medical system. The Shock Trauma GO-TEAM is composed of an attending physician (anesthesiologist, surgeon, critical care medicine specialist) and a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Team members undergo a core training curriculum that includes field surgical care, State EMS protocols, scene safety, helicopter safety, hazardous materials awareness, radio communications, incident command, vehicular rescue, emergency vehicle operations and field operations. Additional ongoing training includes:
Any incident commander may request the GO-TEAM through EMRC/SYSCOM, through his/her local fire dispatch board, or by calling Maryland ExpressCare directly at 410-328-1234. A trauma-line consult with the attending trauma surgeon on-call is requested if possible to help prepare the team prior to arrival at the scene. Whenever possible, the Team is composed of personnel located within the Trauma Center. In some circumstances, it is necessary to utilize on-call attending physicians, who respond to the scene directly.
Once on the scene, the GO-TEAM reports to the incident commander for integration into the rescue operation. The GO-TEAM operates under the operational command of the scene incident commander The on-scene trauma attending physician assumes responsibility for medical decisions for patients under the Team's care. The GO-TEAM works closely with on-scene emergency medical and rescue personnel to provide patient care. Once extricated, patient transport is accomplished to the closest appropriate trauma facility as determined by the GO-TEAM attending physician.
These include the following:
The Trauma Center also remains available to develop individualized disaster or tactical response plans for regional EMS agencies or jurisdictions having specialized medical or rescue needs. For more information, please contact the EMS Coordinator Office at 410-328-8844 or 800-528-1732.
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UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System, 22 S. Greene
Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. 1.800.492.5538 TDD: 1.800.735.2258
Physician Referral: 1.800.373.4111
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