It is imperative that all seriously ill and injured patients be delivered in a timely manner to the closest appropriate facility. There are 48 hospital emergency departments in Maryland. When patients need a higher level of care, MIEMSS has designated nine trauma centers and specialty referral centers including ones for burns, cardiac, spinal cord injuries, pediatrics, eye, hand/upper extremity, hyperbaric, neurotrauma, perinatal, and stroke (primary and comprehensive) centers across the state. Maryland’s Trauma and EMS System insures that the patient get to the right facility to receive the right care through the use of statewide medical protocols for EMS clinicians.