Emergency & Trauma

March 13, 2026

Mass casualty drill set for March 27 at Vanderbilt University Hospital

As part of the exercise, some admitted patients in the adult emergency department may be moved briefly to support the training scenario and evaluate how care teams prepare treatment areas.

By Evan Dorian
March 3, 2026

Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital receives national designation for treating patients with chest pain

Hospitals that earn accreditation have proven exceptional competency in treating patients with heart attack symptoms. The new designation will last until Jan. 31, 2029.

By Matt Batcheldor
February 24, 2026

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine ranks seventh in NIH support of disease-fighting research

Six clinical departments and two basic science departments at VUSM ranked in the top 10 among medical school departments nationwide in fiscal year 2025.  

By Bill Snyder
Compassionate care met determination as burn patient Sean Smith worked toward recovery.
February 20, 2026

Kitchen fire to cap and gown: College senior’s meal prep accident led to 17 days at Vanderbilt Burn Center — and a fight to get back in the gym

Smith was told that his burns couldn’t be fully treated locally so he would be airlifted to either the Vanderbilt Burn Center in Nashville or the University of Louisville.

By Craig Boerner
Some members of the Critical Care Outreach Team at Vanderbilt University Hospital include, front row, left to right, Casey Ernfelt, ACNP, Lindsay Trantum, ACNP, Rebekah Pike, ACNP. Back row, left to right, Liza Weavind, MBBCh, Cody Bowers, AG-ACNP, Kipp Shipley, DNP, Megan Shifrin, DNP, ACNP-BC, and Christopher Hughes, MD. (photo by Donn Jones)
January 13, 2026

Critical Care Outreach Team’s rapid response interventions improve patient safety, prevent ICU transfers

Since January 2020, members of the VUH CCOT have responded to more than 10,000 rapid response calls in every non-ICU unit in the adult hospital.

By Jill Clendening
January 5, 2026

Vanderbilt LifeFlight transitioning flight program back in-house

Through a phased approach, all nine program bases will be fully transitioned by June. This change aligns with Vanderbilt LifeFlight’s goal of owning all aspects of the flight program.

By Lindsay Anderson
December 17, 2025

Life-changing tragedies bring burn team and patients together as ‘family’

The 25-bed Level 1 burn unit now averages over 600 admissions a year, and the adjacent burn clinic sees 3,000 outpatient visits a year.
By Craig Boerner
December 10, 2025

Sedative choice could improve outcomes for breathing tube patients

It's the first study to demonstrate cardiovascular risks of high doses of ketamine (low blood pressure, arrhythmia), side effects that have not been well studied in the past.
By Craig Boerner
November 26, 2025

Kitchen fires most prevalent on Thanksgiving Day

Each Thanksgiving over 2,300 home fires nationwide are caused by cooking, according to the National Fire Protection Association. 
By Craig Boerner
October 30, 2025

Close to Home: How specialized pediatric services are transforming Middle Tennessee 

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center is the only distinct pediatric emergency department and dedicated inpatient unit outside of downtown Nashville.
By Holly Fletcher
September 25, 2025

Vanderbilt University Hospital’s Adult Emergency Department serves the region’s critically ill

Vanderbilt Health System’s emergency departments cared for more than 221,000 patients in the fiscal year that ended June 30.
By John Howser
July 23, 2025

LifeFlight Event Medicine team honored for contributions to athletic training

The award reflects more than a decade of collaboration between LifeFlight and numerous athletic organizations, both collegiate and professional.
By Lindsay Anderson
June 17, 2025

Rapid follow-up limits emergency department crowding, ‘boarding’ 

At Vanderbilt University Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center, ED arrival volumes have increased 8% over last year. In response, there's a newly developed rapid follow-up program for patients who can be referred safely to outpatient clinics for evaluation and treatment. 
By Bill Snyder