MIAMI – Nicklaus Children's Hospital has been verified as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and is the only hospital in South Florida to achieve Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center verification.
"This verification is a testament to our dedicated staff that works tirelessly to ensure children in our community are provided the highest standards in pediatric care. We look forward to continuing to serve the children and their families, said Dr. Leopoldo Malvezzi, pediatric surgeon and Director of Trauma Program at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.
"Verification as a pediatric facility by the ACS demonstrates our continued commitment to delivering the highest quality care to the children and families we serve. It is thanks to our team of dedicated and passionate healthcare professionals that we continue to be recognized amongst the best in the nation," said Michael L. Caschette, Administrative Director of the Emergency Department at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.
The Miguel "Mike" B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center at Nicklaus Children's is one of only two freestanding pediatric trauma centers in the state of Florida and the only freestanding facility in South Florida dedicated exclusively to the care of children and young adults. Our trauma physicians are board certified in pediatric surgery and the clinical staff is comprised of certified pediatric trauma clinicians. The trauma center includes four treatment bays capable of treating up to eight traumatically injured patients.
Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the Committee on Trauma (COT's) Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the prehospital phase through the rehabilitation process. Verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance. This verification is determined following an on-site review of the hospital, conducted by a team of reviewers in the field of trauma.
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College has over 72,000 members and it is the largest association of surgeons in the world. Longstanding achievements have placed the ACS in the forefront of American surgery and have made it an important advocate for all surgical patients.
Nicklaus Children's Hospital has a longstanding history of providing pediatric trauma services to children in our community and is home to one of the busiest emergency rooms in the nation. The trauma center is supported by the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), a critical care unit that provides life-saving monitoring and treatment for critically ill children, utilizing the most advanced therapies and technologies. The PICU is recognized with a Gold-Level Beacon Award by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Children Matter Most (2024)
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South
Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately
850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed
hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs
routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The
hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern
United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing
Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional
honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.