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Trauma Services

Trauma Services at MarinHealth Medical Center

A traumatic event resulting in a high-risk injury can happen in a moment’s notice. And when they do, time is of the essence. MarinHealth’s Trauma Center team is here to provide 24/7, best-in-class access to specialized, life-saving, and comprehensive care for critically injured patients.

A trauma center is a distinct area of a hospital staffed by a team of specially trained health professionals who treat life-threatening injuries. Usually located within the ER, trauma centers aren’t often discussed as separate from emergency rooms, but they handle the highest-risk cases where the issue of survival is paramount. Serious car accident injuries, falls, and gunshot wounds are some of the more common incidents that require trauma center services.

The Trauma Center at MarinHealth Medical Center’s Emergency Department has been verified as a Level III-N Trauma Center by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), and ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). As the only Trauma Center in Marin county, and with added neurological capabilities that allow us to perform emergency surgery for traumatic injuries of the spine and brain, this Level III-N designation ensures that our community members have around-the-clock access to a highly skilled and specially trained multidisciplinary team.

Many of our services are unavailable anywhere else in Marin County, and include:

  • 24-hour in-house Emergency Medicine Physician coverage
  • Prompt availability of Trauma Surgeons, Ortho and Neuro Surgeons, and Anesthesiology
  • A comprehensive multidisciplinary quality assurance program
  • Continuing education for nursing and multidisciplinary allied health professionals working collaboratively as part of the trauma team
  • Transfer agreements for patients requiring a more comprehensive, higher level of service (however, we are able to keep the majority of our patients and service them right here in the community)
  • Referral resource for rural and community hospitals

Our Team

Comprised of expert physician specialists and a caring clinical staff, our team’s foremost goal is the saving of lives. Exceptional patient care is delivered by a complete and collaborative team of trauma surgeons, lab and blood bank technicians, anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists, trauma registrars, registered dietitian nutritionists, and a nursing staff dedicated to traumatic injuries.

When a patient survives a traumatic injury, our team remains committed to providing the best possible outcome and recovery through rehabilitative collaboration with experts in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and other specialized disciplines.

Stress Disorder Management

Through our Behavioral Health Program, we offer care for our emergency/trauma patients who develop Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and/or PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Safety Tips & Injury Prevention

Many of the injuries we see in our ED could have been avoided. Our trauma center has published a few general injury prevention tips and strategies to help keep you out of our emergency department. Get tips on avoiding injuries of all kinds!

Substance Abuse Resources

Drug and alcohol use are major risk factors for traumatic injury. In fact, nationwide 50-70% of patients presenting with injuries have detectible levels in their system. But did you know that substance abuse is also a contributing factor to many treatment complications as well? Below are select local and national resources you can refer to, if you or a loved one are looking for support:

Special Recognition

ACS Trauma Verification Level IIILevel III-N Trauma Center Verification (2019-2025)
The American College of Surgeons
As verified by the Verification Review Committee (VRC), an ad hoc committee of the Committee on Trauma (COT) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the trauma center at MarinHealth Medical Center has been verified as a Level III-N Trauma Center. This achievement recognizes the trauma center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.