UCSD Trauma Center

Since 1976, UCSD Medical Center has served as a Regional Trauma Center for the citizens of San Diego and Imperial counties, and has pioneered improvements in the special care needed by trauma victims.
Designation of UCSD Medical Center as San Diego County’s first Level 1 Trauma Center was acknowledgement of the Center’s continuing commitment to the best possible trauma care provided by expert personnel.
The UCSD Trauma Center includes a three-bed resuscitation suite and a dedicated operating room, all located on the second floor of UCSD Medical Center adjacent to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) and Blood Bank. Patients are seen by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including trauma surgeons, trauma nurses, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons and spine specialists. All aspects of care and all subspecialties in medicine are coordinated in the care of each trauma patient.
The center admits approximately 1,700 patients a year who are Trauma Team Activations. Patients who have been identified by the emergency services in the pre-hospital system to be at higher risk for serious multi-system injuries are brought directly to the resuscitation suite or trauma operating room. For example, people who have sustained severed injuries often involving several areas of the body (such as a brain concussion, internal bleeding, and broken bones) are admitted to the UCSD Trauma Center. Many patients have other medical problems complicated by trauma. In some instances, patients are transferred from other hospitals to take advantage of the special facilities and highly trained personnel available at the UCSD Trauma Center. In 2003, UCSD Trauma Center received Level I verification from the American College of Surgeons’ Committee. By providing truly comprehensive care for trauma patients – from intensive care through intermediate care, acute care and rehabilitation – the UCSD Trauma Center remains committed to decreasing the mortality rate from traumatic injuries in the San Diego Region.