Atlanta Medical Center has been designated as the state’s fifth Level-1 trauma center. But a top official with the hospital says that doesn’t reduce the critical need for more trauma-ready facilities across Georgia.

Atlanta Medical Center treats more than 2,200 trauma patients from over 50 hospitals across the state. It’s only blocks away from Grady Hospital, the busiest Level-1 center in Georgia. The other Level-1 centers are in Macon, Augusta, and Savannah.

But William Moore says there’s plenty of "trauma need" to go around. Atlanta Medical Center’s president and CEO says the most critical need across the state is for trauma centers just a step below--which don’t require the research and teaching hospital designation.

“If we could have a few more Level-2 trauma centers in strategic parts of the state—particularly in south Georgia—that’s the real benefit. I think for that to happen, the funding from the state is fairly critical.”

State lawmakers and voters have yet to approve a permanent funding mechanism for the trauma network.

The upcoming fiscal year’s budget of around $20 million, is a third of what it was three years ago.

Tags: Georgia, trauma care network, state budget, trauma care, Level-1 trauma center, Atlanta Medical Center