Marian Regional Medical Center Officially Receives Level III Trauma Center Designation
Severely injured patients no longer need to be transferred out of the area for expert trauma care
An on-site evaluation was conducted at MRMC on March 29, 2013, by a team of trauma surveyors. The trauma surveyors concluded that MRMC met the criteria for trauma center designation and recommended approval to the County of Santa Barbara’s Emergency Medical Services Agency officials who were present at the time of the evaluation and subsequently granted the Level III designation to MRMC.
MRMC has recruited and organized a team of experienced specialists including expert trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, emergency physicians and nurses who are skilled in trauma services. Level III Trauma Center Designation reflects the expertise of MRMC’s experienced medical staff and high level of trauma care provided to severely injured patients.
“No one expects a crisis and when seconds count, Marian’s Trauma Services Team is prepared for the unexpected with advanced life-saving technology and the highest level of clinical services provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Dr. Joseph D. Centeno, MRMC Trauma Services Medical Director. “Over time, Marian has transformed from a community hospital to a large, regional medical center providing for the complex, dynamic and ever-changing environment of trauma medicine.”
To obtain Trauma Center Designation, MRMC had to achieve strict standards and demonstrate that the facility is staffed and equipped to provide comprehensive, life-saving trauma care. As a designated Level III Trauma Center, MRMC has resources to specialists for emergency resuscitation, surgery and intensive care for trauma patients. In addition, designated Level III Trauma Centers have transfer agreements with Level I and Level II Centers that provide back-up resources for the care of exceptionally severe injuries.
“With the opening of the new, state-of-the-art hospital and expanded modern Emergency Department, Marian now has the facilities necessary to meet the increased demand required for trauma patients,” explains Charles J. Cova, MRMC President and CEO. “To earn trauma center designation, Marian had to demonstrate the high level of care provided to patients by our expert surgeons, facility physicians and highly-skilled health care professionals. Trauma center designation will improve medical care for all Marian patients by providing patients with access to top-notch specialists and ultimately elevating the quality of care for all.”
For more information about MRMC’s Level III Trauma Center Designation, please call Dignity Health of the Central Coast Media Relations at (805) 739-3594.
About Marian Regional Medical Center
Marian Regional Medical Center, located in Santa Maria, California, is rated among the top 10 percent in the nation for cardiac care and its cancer program is distinguished as the only comprehensive Community Cancer Center on the Central Coast. The need to meet the demand for quality, technologically-advanced care for a growing community led Marian to open its doors to a new state-of-the-art, 191-bed facility in the spring of 2012. The new facility houses the largest and most comprehensive perinatology/neonatology service providing the most compassionate, quality care to the littlest of patients. Marian is a Dignity Health member of the Central Coast, which also includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, CA and French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, CA. Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities.