Providing optimal care for injured patients from the scene through rehabilitation requires an organized and systematic approach. In the past, trauma care quality focused on the role of individual trauma centers. Trauma care has evolved to emphasize the entire trauma system rather than focusing only on individual trauma centers. Major trauma system components include trauma centers, communications, emergency response, medical oversight, data collection, emergency management, and injury prevention. The best outcomes for severely injured patients result from close collaboration between these different components. Overall trauma system goals should be to decrease the risk of trauma and mitigate the effects of any injury.