Level I Trauma Center
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is verified as a Level I Trauma Center for adults and Level 2 Trauma Center for pediatrics by the American College of Surgeons and Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services Agency.
Our trauma center responds to trauma emergencies throughout Santa Barbara County, as well as parts of Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.
Features
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (SBCH)
The Trauma Center at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital features:
- Trauma specialists on call around the clock, including:
- 24-hour in-house coverage by senior surgical residents, with immediate surgical backup and supervision
- Complete surgical and diagnostic facilities immediately available
- Resources to provide quality burn care
- Trauma-specific case management, including dedicated trauma nurse coordinators
Partnerships and Support Team
CALSTAR Helicopter Landing on roof at SBCH
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital partners with American Medical Response (AMR) and California Shock/Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) for emergency medical transport to the trauma center. When a patient arrives in crisis, a full trauma team activation provides immediate and aggressive treatment.
Because traumatic injury can affect more than just the body, mental health specialists, social workers, spiritual care services, discharge planners, and rehabilitation therapists are part of the trauma team and play an important role in the recovery process.
Trauma Clinic
Trauma Clinic Visits
Trauma Clinic visits are by appointment only and may be made by calling Trauma Services at 805-569-7451.
The Trauma Clinic provides an opportunity to give follow-up care to our patients who have been involved in traumatic injuries. This is a convenient, no-cost clinic for trauma patients.
The Trauma Nurse Practitioners staff the clinic and are available to examine wounds, remove sutures or staples or perform simple assessments related to the patient’s injury. They also make referrals if needed or can assist with prescription refills, as indicated.
Trauma Clinic visits are by appointment only.
Injury Prevention
We are dedicated to injury prevention as well as quality trauma care. Falls, motor vehicle collisions, and bicycle-related injuries are the top three reasons for admission to the trauma center.
For each trauma patient admitted, our staff provides treatment, determines whether the injury was preventable, and provides resources and education for injury prevention.
Verifications and Designations
Verified trauma centers must meet essential criteria that ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance, as outlined by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma. The ACS has more than 72,000 members and it is the largest association of surgeons in the world, serving as an important advocate for all surgical patients.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors designated Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital as a Cardiac Receiving Center to provide Comprehensive Cardiac Care for Santa Barbara County.
The goal of the system is to reduce to 90 minutes or less the time from recognition of a cardiac event — known as S-T Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) — to definitive treatment. STEMI is the most serious form of heart attack.
