Sierra Vista Medical Center Re-verified as Level III Trauma Center

San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The trauma center at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has been re-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 (ACS). 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.

When life-threatening situations occur, the San Luis Obispo community can rely on Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center to offer full-service emergency room care. The emergency department treats illnesses ranging from broken bones to life-threatening injuries, all delivered by specially trained emergency staff.

“I am proud that Sierra Vista has continued to achieve such a high standard of trauma care by being verified as a Level III Trauma Center,” said Mark Lisa, CEO of Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. “This recognition reaffirms our commitment to providing outstanding trauma care for our San Luis Obispo communities.”

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.

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 all injured patients. Each hospital has an on-site review by a team of experienced reviewers. There are five separate categories of verification in the COT’s program and each category has specific criteria that must be met by a facility seeking that level of verification.

Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1987, the COT'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.