The trauma center at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has been verified as a Level III Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons. Sierra Vista was first approved by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors to be the first-ever designated trauma center in San Luis Obispo in March 2012.
According to the ACS, verified trauma centers must meet the essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. Sierra Vista is the only hospital along the Highway 101 corridor to achieve this status between Santa Barbara and San Jose. The Sierra Vista trauma team is led by Dr. Howard Hayashi, trauma medical director.
“Following many years of effort to bring a designated trauma center to San Luis Obispo County I am proud that Sierra Vista has achieved the ‘gold standard’ of trauma care by being verified as a Level III Trauma Center,” said Joe DeSchryver, Sierra Vista’s Chief Executive Officer. “This achievement recognizes our dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.”
The ACS Committee on Trauma’s verification program does not designate trauma centers. Rather, the program provides confirmation that a trauma center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality trauma care for injured patients. Each hospital has an on-site review by a team of experienced reviewers.
Established in 1987 by the American College of Surgeons, the Committee on Trauma’s Consultation/Verification Program for hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers in which participants provide not only the hospital resources necessary for trauma care, but also the entire spectrum of care to address the needs of all injured patients. This spectrum encompasses the pre-hospital phase through the rehabilitation process.