About MetroHealth Emergency Medical Services
Our resources support first responders and medical professionals with expert care, training, and clinical support.
Northeast Ohio’s Premier Level I Trauma Center
When trauma strikes, experience makes the difference. MetroHealth is proud to be Northeast Ohio’s most experienced and trusted Level I Adult Trauma Center, delivering lifesaving care for decades and setting the standard for trauma outcomes across the region. Verified by the American College of Surgeons since 1992, MetroHealth provides the highest level of emergency and trauma care—24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Emergency Care at a Glance
100,000
patients annually
35,000
are transported via prehospital partners
7,600
critically injured patients
7,000
patients receive advanced trauma care
Day in the Life: Paramedic, Emergency Medicine
Comprehensive Care Beyond the Emergency
Trauma care doesn’t end when a patient leaves the hospital. MetroHealth delivers whole‑person recovery, supporting physical, emotional, and psychological healing long after the injury.
- 60% of trauma patients are discharged directly home rather than to rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities—reflecting the effectiveness of our care and recovery model.
- MetroHealth is home to one of the nation’s earliest hospital‑based rehabilitation programs. The Rehabilitation Institute helps patients regain function and return to daily life.
- Our nationally recognized Comprehensive Burn Care Center, with more than 50 years of experience, provides specialized care for complex burn injuries.
Rapid Response When Every Second Counts
From the scene of injury to the operating room, MetroHealth is built for speed and precision. Metro Life Flight, serving Northeast Ohio since 1982, provides advanced critical care transport by air and ground, bringing lifesaving expertise directly to patients when time is critical. In 2025 alone, Life Flight transported more than 5,400 patients.
Our trauma teams stop internal bleeding after vehicle crashes without surgery more often than comparable trauma centers nationwide. When surgery is necessary, MetroHealth gets patients into the operating room approximately 13% faster than the national average—a difference that saves lives.
Healing the Invisible Wounds of Trauma
MetroHealth is also home to the only comprehensive, hospital‑based Trauma Recovery Center of its kind in Northeast Ohio. In 2025, the center served nearly 2,000 individuals, two‑thirds of whom were victims of crime. Services include peer coaching, counseling, victim advocacy, care coordination, and long‑term support—addressing the emotional and psychological impact of trauma alongside physical recovery.
Advancing Trauma Care Through Research & Partnership
MetroHealth is a national leader in trauma innovation and education. Our physicians and researchers at the Cleveland Center for Emergency Care Research and Innovation (ECRI) published 64 trauma‑related studies in prominent medical journals, contributing to safer, more effective trauma care across the country.
Through partnerships like our collaboration with Fisher‑Titus Medical Center in Norwalk, MetroHealth extends Level I expertise to communities across the region, ensuring access to advanced trauma care close to home.
Our medical direction partnerships are built on continuous communication, servant leadership, and a deep understanding of the realities of prehospital care.
Your Questions Answered
Why should our agency partner with MetroHealth for medical direction?
MetroHealth offers experienced, values‑driven medical direction grounded in public health, public safety, and decades of trauma and emergency care leadership. We collaborate closely with agencies to support evidence‑based protocols, effective communication, and real‑world solutions that improve patient outcomes in the field.
Learn more about our Medical Direction Partners
How does MetroHealth support first responders beyond patient transport?
We view first responders as partners in care—not just referral sources. MetroHealth provides ongoing clinical support, access to trauma and EMS experts, feedback on patient outcomes, and collaboration to continuously improve prehospital care delivery.
Learn more about our FieldBrief newsletter for first responders
Does MetroHealth offer continuing education and training credits for EMS?
Yes. MetroHealth offers accredited EMS education and continuing education opportunities led by experienced emergency medicine, trauma, and prehospital care professionals—helping responders maintain certifications while staying current on best practices.