Trauma centers are often located within a hospital’s emergency room and are part of an emergency department’s system. Trauma centers are equipped to handle trauma. A trauma is an injury that requires immediate medical attention. Traumas are often referred to as traumatic injuries. Examples of traumatic injuries include car crash injuries, gunshot wounds, major burns, blunt trauma, and traumatic brain injury.

If you have suffered trauma in an accident that’s caused by another person’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your injuries. Contact our traumatic injury attorneys for free, friendly advice. Our experienced lawyers have helped numerous injured victims receive full compensation. We can be reached at (916) 921-6400.

In the United States, hospitals must meet criteria established by the American College of Surgeons, and in Sacramento, licensed hospitals receive their trauma center designation level from California’s Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). General requirements for all trauma centers include a trauma program medical director, trauma nurse coordinator, an emergency department with specialists immediately available, a staff trauma surgeon, non-surgical specialists, and be able to handle the initial evaluation and treatment of pediatric trauma patients. 

Possible trauma center designations include:

• Level I, II, III or IV Trauma Centers
• Level I or II Pediatric Trauma Centers

According to EMSA’s Trauma Level Overview, a very basic overview of the designations is:

• Level I and II Trauma Centers are the highest levels designation. These hospitals have similar personnel, services, and resource requirements. Level I trauma centers are different from Level II with the main difference being Level I centers are also research and teaching hospitals.
• Level III and IV Trauma Centers generally provide initial stabilization of trauma patients. Level III centers have greater surgical capabilities than Level IV.
• Level I and II Pediatric Trauma Centers focus specifically on children and pediatric trauma patients. Level I pediatric trauma centers have additional pediatric specialty services and are research and teaching hospitals.

• Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center – Sacramento
• Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center – Vacaville
• MarshallMedicalCenter – Placerville
• Mercy San Juan Medical Center – Carmichael
• NorthBay Medical Center – Fairfield
• Queen of the Valley Medical Center – Napa
• Rideout Memorial Hospital – Marysville
• SutterRosevilleMedicalCenter – Roseville
• The University of California, Davis Medical Center – Sacramento

Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center
Level II Trauma Center
6600 Bruceville Road, Sacramento, CA 95823
(916) 688-2000
Website
Emergency Department Page
Kaiser Permanente has a high level of quality of care and is also a great hospital in Sacramento.

Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center
Level II Trauma Center
1 Quality Drive, Vacaville, CA 95688
(707) 624-4000
Website
Emergency Department Page
Also sometimes called Kaiser Foundation Hospital, this hospital was designated a Level II trauma center by Solano Emergency Medical Services Cooperative (SEMSC).

Marshall Medical Center
Level III Trauma Center
1100 Marshall Way, Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 622-1441
Website
Emergency Department Page
This hospital was designated a Level III Trauma Center by El Dorado County’s Emergency Medical Services Agency (El Dorado EMS Agency) and provides care to patients suffering from traumatic injuries in El Dorado County.

Mercy San Juan Medical Center
Level II Trauma Center
6501 Coyle Ave., Carmichael, CA 95608
(916) 537-5000
Website
Emergency Department Page
Located in Carmichael, a Sacramento suburb, and is one of the largest hospitals in the area. This is a highly rated, non-profit hospital.

NorthBay Medical Center
Level II Trauma Center
1200 B. Gale Wilson Blvd., Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 646-5000
Website
Emergency Department Page
This hospital is Solano County’s only locally based, non-profit organization.

Queen of the Valley Medical Center
Level III Trauma Center
1000 Trancas Street, Napa, CA 94558
(707) 252-4411
Website
Emergency Department Page
This hospital has the top trauma center in Napa and was recently verified a Level III Trauma Center.

Rideout Memorial Hospital
Level III Trauma Center
726 4th Street, Marysville, CA 95901
(530) 749-4300
Website
Emergency Department Page
Also known as Rideout Regional Medical Center, this hospital was designated a Level III Trauma Center by the Sierra-Sacramento Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency (S-SVEMSA).

Sutter Roseville Medical Center
Level II Trauma Center
One Medical Plaza Dr., Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 781-1000
Website
Emergency Department Page
Also called Sutter Health, this non-profit serves over 50,000 patients per year.

University of California, Davis Medical Center
Level I Trauma Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center
2315 Stockton Blvd., Room 4206, Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-2011
Website
Emergency Department Page
Owned by the University of California and formerly known as Sacramento Medical Center, UC Davis is one of only 20 hospitals in the county with both Level I adult and pediatric trauma centers. It is also the only Level I trauma center in Northern California and has a regional burn center and several other specialty centers.

I’m Ed Smith, a traumatic injury lawyer in Sacramento. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic injury and someone else may be responsible for the injury, call me today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for my free and friendly advice.

We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

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Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 6.4.20]

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