Trauma FAQs Helping the public understand trauma and trauma care. What is trauma? Does it mean the same thing as “injury”? What is traumatic injury? What are the roles of EMS and fire departments in trauma? Is every hospital a trauma center? What is a trauma system? If I have a bad injury, what happens when I come to the hospital? When does an ER transfer a patient to a different hospital? How long will a trauma patient stay in the hospital? What is the journey from EMS to recovery? What is a Rehab Center? Which patients will need rehab after being discharged from a trauma hospital? How can traumatic injuries be prevented? What is traumatic brain injury (TBI)? What is spinal cord injury?