Ascension St. John is adding a Level 1 trauma center to the area, bringing convenient advanced emergency care close to home.

One summer day in Tulsa, a well-known and loved school crossing guard named CR, was helping kids leave summer school when a speeding car ran a stop sign in a school zone and struck him with such force that he was thrown five feet before hitting the pavement.

The injuries were devastating. It included multiple broken bones, internal bleeding, head trauma and fractured ribs CR’s survival depended on immediate, specialized trauma care. Not just any emergency room.

Imagine if there was a Level 1 trauma center nearby that could have made a difference. Ascension St. John in Tulsa, Oklahoma is NOW a first Level 1 trauma center that could treat car injuries and more.

What is a Level 1 trauma center?

A Level 1 trauma center is the highest designation a hospital can receive for trauma care. These centers are equipped to treat the most critically injured patients 24/7, with:

• Specialized trauma surgeons on call
• Trauma-trained nurses and anesthesiologists
• Advanced diagnostic and surgical technology
• Comprehensive support staff and resources

This level of care can mean the difference between life and death as it did for CR.

Trauma care for advanced emergency care

While CR doesn’t remember the first 24 hours after the accident, he and his family will never forget what the trauma center meant that day. It wasn’t just a place for treatment.

It was a lifeline.

And that lifeline is available to every member of the Tulsa community when the unthinkable happens—car crashes, industrial accidents, severe falls, or violent trauma.

Why it matters for Tulsa?

In a growing community, having access to Level 1 trauma care can save lives. Until now, critically injured patients often had to be transported to Oklahoma City, delaying care. With a Tulsa-based Level I center, rural and underserved communities will have better access to life-saving care much closer to home. Ascension St. John Trauma Center brings specialized trauma care to treat some of the most complex and advanced injuries and conditions caused by accidents, strokes and other time-sensitive emergencies.

Our Level 1 trauma center attracts top talent and will be the hub of future life-saving research through the Ascension St. John Clinical Research Institute. With all these benefits, you can be assured that our comprehensive trauma teams will collaborate and quickly create treatment plans that are right for you and your family using top talent, the latest technology, and treatments in trauma care. 

Ascension St. John Tulsa’s first and only Level 1 Trauma center is committed to the highest standards in trauma care. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.

Last updated: July 23, 2025