Trauma Care Readiness and Coordination Program

Through the Trauma Care Readiness and Coordination Program, ASPR helps states, tribal organizations, and trauma centers strengthen coordination between hospitals, emergency medical services, and public health agencies. This program will test scalable models that improve trauma system readiness and patient access to the right level of care, all while improving the nation’s response readiness for both everyday emergencies and large-scale disasters. 

Overview

ASPR established the Trauma Care Readiness and Coordination Program in 2026 with funding from the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The program, administered by ASPR’s Office of Health Care Readiness, seeks to address uneven access to trauma care in the United States by supporting states, tribal organizations, and trauma centers as they test and refine scalable models that strengthen emergency medical services and trauma system coordination. By enhancing coordination, improving regional situational awareness, and generating a stronger evidence base for future investments, the program supports ASPR’s broader vision for a more resilient nation prepared for disasters and public health emergencies.
Cooperative agreement recipients will use funding from ASPR to execute two or more of the required pilot project activities to improve patient movement, increase access to the appropriate level of trauma care, and build evidence for future trauma care investments. States, consortia of states, Indian Tribes, trauma centers, and nonprofits associated with Indian Health Services are eligible to apply. Information regarding program eligibility can be found within the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov or in Section 1204 of the Public Health Service Act. 

Why this program matters

When serious injuries happen, fast and coordinated care can save lives. Effective trauma systems depend on strong coordination across pre-hospital entities, such as emergency medical services, and hospitals so that patients can get the right care, at the right place, and at the right time. A strong trauma care delivery system will be able to achieve the “golden hour” delivery of care, where patients facing a trauma-related emergency are able to receive life-saving care during the first hour of their injury. Through this program, ASPR encourages states, tribal organizations, and trauma centers to develop scalable and replicable trauma system models that can improve trauma care access and outcomes. 

Over time, these efforts are intended to support more efficient patient movement, stronger regional resilience, and improved health outcomes. 
 

Trauma Care Fast Facts

1 in 3 Americans live in regions with incomplete trauma care¹

30 million Americans live more than 60 minutes from a trauma center²

 

1 in 5 deaths from traumatic injuries may be preventable with optimal trauma care³

Pilot project activities and intended outcomes.

The Trauma Care Readiness and Coordination Program supports the design, implementation, and evaluation of new or existing trauma systems and emergency medical models to improve access to trauma care. Recipients must use program funds to conduct at least two of the required pilot project activities. Through these activities, recipients will advance scalable, sustainable models that drive short, medium, and long-term outcomes, strengthening trauma readiness and coordination nationwide. ASPR will prioritize pilots that serve medically underserved populations, as defined in 42 USC § 254b(b)(3). Through this funding priority, ASPR aims to help close gaps in trauma care access, coordination, and readiness in communities with limited access to services to improve health outcomes and save lives. 

What makes this program different from other programs within the Office of Health Care Readiness portfolio?

The Trauma Care Readiness and Coordination Program and other Office of Health Care Readiness programs strengthen health care readiness to provide coordinated, life-saving care in the face of disasters and other emergencies. Each program, however, differs in scope, design, and implementation. Learn more about other Office of Health Care Readiness programs below: 

• The Regional Disaster Health Response System supports demonstration sites that coordinate specialty care assets, allocate resources, and support patient movement across regions during emergencies;

• The National Special Pathogen System establishes a tiered system of care for patients with confirmed or suspected high consequence infectious diseases; and

• The Hospital Preparedness Program supports health care coalitions to improve preparedness and response capabilities for all types of disasters.

Recipients are encouraged to work with other ASPR programs – such as the National Disaster Medical System – to identify opportunities to enhance trauma care resilience and coordination.

Additional Resources

ASPR released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for this program on August 19, 2026. Please see the Press Release on ASPR Newsroom for additional information.

^1. American College of Surgeons, “Trauma Series: Part IV.” American College of Surgeons.
^2. Improving care and equity in the American trauma system: past, present and future.” Trauma surgery & acute care (May, 2025). 
^3. "A national trauma care system: integrating military and civilian trauma systems to achieve zero preventable deaths after injury." (2016).