Tampa General Hospital and Muma Children's Hospital Earn Renewed Level I Trauma Center Verification

The only ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center in the West Florida region, Tampa General is re-verified through January 2029.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:37pm

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A highly detailed, translucent X-ray image revealing the internal skeletal structure of a human torso, conceptually representing the advanced trauma care capabilities of Tampa General Hospital and Muma Children's Hospital.The renewed Level I Trauma Center verification for Tampa General Hospital and Muma Children's Hospital affirms their commitment to delivering exceptional, cutting-edge care for the most critically injured patients.Today in Tampa

Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and Muma Children's Hospital at TGH have announced the renewal of their Level I Trauma Center verification by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT). The verification, which extends through January 2029, affirms Tampa General's standing as the West Florida region's only ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center and one of the nation's premier academic trauma programs, in partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

Why it matters

Trauma care is among the most time-sensitive, high-stakes services a health system can provide, and this renewal is a testament to Tampa General's extraordinarily dedicated team and their ability to effectively collaborate across disciplines to deliver the best care possible. As West Florida's only ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center, Tampa General understands its profound responsibility to the patients and communities who depend on them in their most critical moments.

The details

The rigorous renewal process included an on-site review conducted in January that evaluated all aspects of the trauma program, including physician leadership, nursing coverage, harm prevention, performance improvement, and patient outcomes. The Trauma Quality Improvement (TQIP) report from the ACS' Verification Review Committee placed the academic health system in the top 30% (3rd decile) nationally for severe traumatic brain injury risk-adjusted mortality. The site visit reviewers also highlighted numerous clinical and operational strengths across the program, including its neurotrauma and orthopaedic trauma programs, robust injury prevention outreach, a highly trained registrar team, and a trauma ICU nursing model.

  • The verification extends through January 29, 2029.
  • The on-site review was conducted in January 2026.

The players

Tampa General Hospital

A 1,530-bed not-for-profit network of hospital and outpatient services spanning across Florida, and the Tampa Bay region's only academic health system.

Muma Children's Hospital at TGH

The children's hospital within Tampa General Hospital, providing specialized trauma care for the region's youngest and most vulnerable patients.

American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT)

The organization that verifies trauma centers and sets the essential criteria to ensure optimal trauma care capability and the highest level of institutional performance.

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

The academic partner of Tampa General Hospital, training the next generation of trauma surgeons and advancing the science of trauma medicine.

John Couris

The president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center | Tampa General.

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What they’re saying

“Trauma care is among the most time-sensitive, high-stakes services a health system can provide, and this renewal is a testament to our extraordinarily dedicated team and how effectively we collaborate across disciplines to deliver the best care possible.”

— John Couris, President and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center | Tampa General

“This Level I re-verification reflects years of intentional investment in our people, our processes and our patients, and we are incredibly proud of what this distinction means to the patients we serve across our region.”

— Melissa Golombek, Executive Vice President and President of Tampa General Hospital

“Our goal has always been to build a program that is not only nationally verified, but nationally recognized as a model for academic pediatric trauma care.”

— Sarah Frahn, Vice President of the TGH Women's Institute and Muma Children's Hospital at Tampa General

What’s next

The ACS will continue to monitor Tampa General Hospital and Muma Children's Hospital's trauma program, and the hospitals will work to implement any feedback or recommendations from the verification review to further enhance their trauma care capabilities.

The takeaway

Tampa General Hospital and Muma Children's Hospital's renewed Level I Trauma Center verification from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma solidifies their position as a leading academic trauma program in the nation, committed to providing the highest standard of care for the most critically injured patients in the West Florida region.