UC Davis Med Center earns Level 1 designation

UC Davis Med Center earns Level 1 designation
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sacramento Business Journal

UC Davis Medical Center has been designated as a Level 1 trauma center for adults and children, a rare designation nationwide.

The American College of Surgeons awarded the Level 1 trauma center designation – one of 112 nationwide, but less than 20 meet the requirement for both adults and children. In order to meet the requirement, Level 1 trauma centers must admit at least 1,200 patients per year. UC Davis admitted 2,836 patients in 2008, making it one of the busiest nationwide.

UC Davis Medical Center chief executive officer Ann Madden Rice said the hospital has “achieved what few others have done. This is a terrific achievement, and reflects the expertise, hard work and high quality of the many physicians, nurses and ancillary staff who make our trauma centers an indispensable resources for the Sacramento and Northern California region.”

The medical center serves about 6 million people in a 33-county region.

Level 1 trauma centers are required to have a certain number of surgeons and specialists – including anesthesiologists, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery – available for round-the-clock treatment. Level 1 center must also have education and research programs as well as community prevention and outreach programs.