UW Medicine’s contracts with Aetna for Medicare Advantage and Commercial services expire on May 31, 2025, unless renewed. We have not been able to reach a fair agreement with Aetna that is financially feasible. If an agreement cannot be reached, we will be out of network with Aetna, effective June 1, 2025. Learn more.
Level III Trauma Center
Our Level III Trauma Center serves south King county. We are a moderate to high volume facility caring for a variety of injured trauma patients. This includes emergency, acute care surgery, and specialty surgery services with an operating room available 24/7.
As one of the busiest Level III trauma centers in the region, Valley provides exceptional care for injured patients and works closely with Harborview; the local Level I Trauma Hospital. We offer:
- 24-hour immediate coverage by emergency medicine, acute care surgeons, laboratory,
radiology, critical care services, operating rooms, and anesthesiology. - Other specialties include orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and OB/GYN
- Trauma prevention programs and continuing education programs for staff and the community.
- Injury prevention efforts with an active outreach program.
- On site blood bank
- Helipad
Click here to learn more about the care in our Emergency Department.
National Falls Prevention Awareness Week
September 23 - 27, 2024
Read the Governor's Proclamation.
Each year local groups across Washington state organize events to raise awareness that falls are not a normal part of aging; most falls are preventable. For more information and a social media toolkit, visit the NCOA website.
MAY is National Trauma Awareness Month!
Injury prevention is a core value of Valley Medical Center. Starting in 1988, President Ronald Reagan and Congress designated May of each year as National Trauma Awareness Month. Valley has been working diligently and focusing in the areas of Stop the Bleed, geriatric falls, pediatric falls, and motor vehicle collision prevention. Every year, a new national focus is designated which relates to injury prevention and raising trauma awareness.
Over the years the following have been some of the campaign themes of National Trauma Awareness Month:
- Drunk Driving
- Teen Driving
- School Violence
- Sports Injuries (General)
- Sports Injuries/Concussions
- Safety at Home
- Falls and the Elderly
- Water Safety
- Head Injuries/Helmet use
- Red Light Running
Browse our trauma webpage and links to see how you can raise trauma awareness and prevent injury! Feel free to share your trauma journey at the bottom of the page.
History of Trauma System in Washington State
Washington’s trauma story began in 1990 with the Trauma Care Systems Act. Throughout the years the trauma system has grown with a Level I, several Level II, more Level III and many Level IV and V trauma centers throughout the state.
Top 3 Trauma-Related Methods of Injury
Patient Education Resources
Reduce Your Risk of Falling
There are five key ways to reduce your risk for falls:
- Find fall dangers in your home and make changes to improve safety.
- Regular exercise and physical activity.
- Take good care of your eyes and make sure to have regular eye exams.
- Take good care of your feet, including wearing shoes that protect your feet.
- Review the medications you take for drug interactions and possible side
effects that may cause dizziness or loss of balance with your healthcare provider.
The resources below can help you learn more about preventing falls at home:
Valley Medical Center Resources
- Falls - Patient Education, Printable Packet
- Falls - Patient Education, Printable Packet (Spanish)
- DocTalk: Preventing Falls (5:34 video)
- Article Based on DocTalk: Preventing Falls
- Conquer the Fear of Falling with these Prevention Tips
- How to Prevent a Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
Finding our Balance: Prevent Slips, Trips, & Stumbles
WA State Department of Social & Health Services
English | Spanish | Cambodian | Chinese | Farsi | Korean | Pashto
Laotian | Russian | Somali | Ukrainian | Vietnamese | Arabic
More Fall Prevention Resources
- Fall Prevention Resources from the WA State DoH
- Falls Free Check-up by The National Council on Aging
- Low-Cost Exercise Program & Motivational Behavior Change Program for Seniors though Project Enhance - Developed by the University of Washington and Sound Generations
- One Step Ahead for a Healthy Independent Life by King County Public Health and Emergency Medical Services
- Older Adult Falls by the WA State Department of Health
- Older Adult Fall Prevention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Tips for Staying Active & Healthy Aging by the National Institute on Aging
- 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall by the National Council on Aging (1:40 video)
- Fall Prevention for Older Adults by the National Council on Aging
- Fall Prevention by Aging Wisely (26:38 video)
(Click to Enlarge)
There are 3 main types of distracted driving:
- Visual: taking your eyes off the road
- Physical: taking your hands off the wheel
- Mental: taking your mind off driving
The resources below can help you learn more about safe driving:
- Car Seat Safety to Protect Children by VMC
- Like Alcohol, Certain Medicine Can Affect Your Driving by VMC
- Transportation Safety by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Distracted Driving by the WA State Department of Health (0:32 video)
- Reckless & Distracted Driving by Impact Teen Drivers
- What Do You Consider Lethal? by Impact Teen Drivers
A few small precautions (from King County Public Health) can save a child's life:
Always watch small children closely. - Never open windows more than 4 inches.
- Open windows from the top down, if possible.
- Move furniture away from windows.
- Install window stops or child-safety window guards.
- Never rely on window screens to keep children from
falling out a window. - Screens are designed to pop out for fire safety—the
weight of a toddler can easily push through a screen.
The resources below can help you learn more about keeping your
children safe from injuries at home, in and around the car, and at play:
- Summer is the Time to Check for Helmet Safety by VMC
- Safe Kids, Washington by the WA State Department of Health
- Window Safety for Kids by King County Public Health
Common Trauma-Related Diagnosis
Patient Education Resources
General Resources
- Burn First Aid Resources - American Burn Association
- General Burn Information - UW Medicine
- Types of Burns - UW Medicine
- Emergency Treatment of Burn Injuries - UW Medicine
- Burn Care Resources - UW Medicine
- Fire Safe Kid Resources - Burn Institute
- Home Fire Escape Plan Resources - Ready.gov
- Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction - U.S. Fire Administration
- Learn how sunscreen protects you from burns - Harborview Medical Center
- Pediatric Palm Burn Exercises and Activities - Harborview Medical Center
- Foot and Leg Burn Exercises and Activities - Harborview Medical Center
200 Series - For Providers & Patients
BURNS 201: Initial Care and Debridement of Outpatient Burn Wounds
BURNS 202: Activity and Stretching Exercises for Burn Patients
BURNS 203: Care of Your Mepilex Ag Donor Site at Home
BURNS 205: My First Wound Care
300 Series – Stretching for Patients
BURNS 301: Pediatric Palm Stretch
BURNS 302: Hip and Groin Stretches
BURNS 303: Burn Elbow Stretches
BURNS 304: Burn Shoulder Stretches
BURNS 305: Foot and Leg Stretches
BURNS 306: Burn Hand Stretches
BURNS 307: Wrist Stretching
BURNS 308: Neck Stretches
BURNS 309: Face Stretching
300 Serie En Español
BURNS 300‐S: Actividades y ejercicios de estiramiento para personas con quemaduras (Activity and Stretching Exercises for the Burn Patient)
BURNS 301‐S: Estiramiento de Palma Pediatrica (Palm stretching)
BURNS 302‐S: Estiramiento de la Cadera y la Ingle (Hip and Groin Stretches)
BURNS 303‐S: Estiramiento del Codo (Burn Elbow Stretches)
BURNS 304‐S: Estiramientos para Quemaduras del Hombro (Burn Shoulder Stretches)
BURNS 305‐S: Estiramientos para Quemaduras del Pie y de la Pierna (Foot and Leg Stretches)
BURNS 306‐S: Estiramientos de la Mano (Burn Hand Stretches)
BURNS 307‐S: Estiramientos de la Muñeca y el Antebrazo (Wrist Stretching)
BURNS 308‐S: Estiramientos del Cuello (Neck Stretches)
BURNS 309‐S: Estiramientos de la Cara (Face Stretching)
500 Series - Burn Pain for Patients
BURNS 501: Burn Pain: The Basics
Resource List
- Facial Fracture | At-Home Care from Valley Medical Center
- King County access & outreach program
- Dental and oral health clinics, programs, and resources from King County Public Health
Click here to download a copy of this document
- Traumatic Brain Injury Resources & Workbook from the WA State Department of Social and Health Services
- Taking Care of the Family After Brain Injury by StayWell
- Traumatic Brain Injury Resources from the WA State Department of Social and Health Services
- What is a Traumatic Brain Injury? (3:32) Educational Video
- Help for a Traumatic Brain Injury in Washington State
- Events and classes for those with a TBI
- Learn more about TBI & Concussion from the CDC
- What to Expect After a Concussion from the CDC
- What to Expect After a Concussion (Wallet Card)
Drug & Alcohol Resources
- FREE drug and alcohol self-exam by the National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Screening and Assessment Tools Chart by the National Institute on Drug Abuse
- List of behavioral health resources in South King County
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder; list of resources
- Substance Use Disorder; list of resources
- Drug & Addiction Resources in Washington State
- Help Finding Treatment; FindTreatment.gov
- What's up with Fentanyl?; Educational flyer from UW Medicine
- Drug & Alcohol Hotlines
- Alcohol and Drug 24hr Hotline for WA State | (206) 722-3700, (800) 562-1240
- Teen line for WA State | (206) 722-4222, (877) 345-8336
- Addictions, Drug, & Alcohol Institute at UW Medicine | (206) 221-8325
- Crisis Connections 24hr Crisis Line | (866) 427-4747
- Alcohol and Drug 24hr Hotline for WA State | (206) 722-3700, (800) 562-1240
Sexual Assault Resources
- Sexual Health Clinic at Harborview
- Traumatic Stress Counseling - Harborview Abuse and Trauma Center
- Sexual Assault Hotlines
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) | 1-800-656-4673
- National Domesic Violence Hotline | 1-800-799-7233
- King County Sexual Assault Resource Center | 1-888-998-6423
- Sexual Assault Resources - University of Washington
- Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, & Stalking Resources - Washington State University
- Protection Orders - King County
- Steps for Filing for an Emergency Protection Order - King County
Stop the Bleed
The # 1 cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding. With 3 quick actions, you can be trained to save a life. Valley Medical Center is proud to be one of many Stop the Bleed training sites throughout the US. See the Stop the Bleed webpage for more information.
For more information, contact Trauma_Services@valleymed.org
Click the image above to visit stopthebleed.org
