Your Trauma Team

Your recovery is our mission. We take a family centered approach to patient care and education to improve your quality of life after a traumatic brain injury. With so many unknowns, our team is here to help you navigate this new chapter in your life.

Vanderbilt's Level One Trauma Unit is among the best in the country. It is led by our Chief of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Dr. Oscar Guillamondegui. Our trauma unit serves a 65,000 square mile radius and is the only level one trauma unit in middle Tennessee. The 31 bed unit has 14 ICU beds, 10 sub-acute beds and a 7 bed acute admission area. With our T3 service, we have an average daily trauma census of 80 patients. Our trauma unit is a high-paced environment staffed with highly skilled, compassionate individuals . We work tirelessly 24 hours a day to ensure the delivery of evidence-based care that exceeds every medical standard. Our goal is for you to receive the best possible care.

• Trauma Attendings

• Fellows

• Residents

• Acute Care Nurse Practitioners

• Physician Assistants

• Registered Nurses

• Respiratory Therapists

• Residents

• Care Partners

• Registered Dietitians

• Physical Therapists

• Occupational Therapists

• Speech-Language Pathologists

• Trauma Survivor Peers

• Social Workers

• Child Life Specialists

• Guest Service Representatives

• Case Managers

• Medical Receptionists

• Security

• HERE to visit the Trauma Website

The first hours after a traumatic brain injury are critical. Once your loved one arrives to our unit, our staff will need time to complete the admission. Depending on the severity of the injury, CT scans, placement of a medical device, or even the operating room may be immediately required. The time it takes to admit is different for every patient, so please remain patient with us. We will allow you to visit as soon as we can. It is important to remember that your loved one may not be able to tolerate you touching them or talking to them every time you visit in the ICU. Please ask your nurse what is acceptable each time you visit.

Family rounds are held every morning with the entire care team. During rounds, our attending, fellows, residents, respiratory therapists, pharmacist, case manager and your nurse will discuss your loved ones care in detail. In order to have all of your questions answered, it is important for you to be present during morning rounds. Some find it helpful to write their questions down ahead of time. Understanding a traumatic brain injury can be complicated. Keeping a daily journal can help you stay organized. Please check in with security and the guest representative to let them know you would like to be present during morning rounds.

For the safety of our staff and our patients, our unit is locked and guarded. The unit can close during an emergency, a procedure, or for any reason deemed necessary by our staff. We appreciate your understanding during these times. Due to the nature of the ICU environment, we do not allow visitors to sit at the bedside or on the beds in the ICU. Once the patient is more stable and can be transferred to the sub-acute unit, an over-night visitor will be allowed.

When you are medically ready to be discharged, emotions can run high. Some people feel that they are not ready to be discharged from the hospital, and get worried about leaving. This is completely normal! Brain injuries can take a long time to heal, but we will provide you with all the resources you will need to recover. Take it one day at a time, and stay focused on all of your accomplishments. Keeping a great attitude can be half the battle! In order to optimize your recovery, a two week follow-up appointment will be scheduled with the trauma clinic after you are discharged. Our clinic is located in The Vanderbilt Clinic (TVC) on the 3rd floor. Depending on the severity of your injury, your provider may schedule an appointment with the Multidisciplinary Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at the Vanderbilt Traumatic Brain Injury Center. The MTBIC will help you continue your meaningful recovery by providing physical, mental health and cognitive screenings. During your MTBI clinic visit, you will also be given the opportunity to participate in research that focuses on every aspect of recovery. The MTBIC is located in the Vanderbilt Clinic, in Suite 3501A