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CCH

Making a Difference for Trauma Victims, Every Day


Improving survival and recovery of victims of traumatic injury. Contra Costa County trauma victims depend on us for a coordinated trauma emergency response.

Traumatic injury causes significant disability and death and affects all age groups and communities. Improved trauma outcome and survival relies on a coordinated "system" of trauma care. In Contra Costa, the emergency medical response for trauma victims is provided by a network of first-rate agencies and hospitals in partnership with trauma centers to reduce injury and death.

Every year approximately 3,000 trauma victims are treated within the Contra Costa Trauma System. When 9-1-1 responds to the scene where trauma is involved they rapidly evaluate the patient based on "trauma criteria" to determine the appropriate destination for trauma care.

The Contra Costa County Trauma System was developed and approved by the Board of Supervisors in 1985. The Trauma System Plan was approved later that year by the California State Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). The John Muir Trauma Center has been designated as the County's sole Level II Trauma Center since 1986 and is accredited by the American College of Surgeons ACS. Contra Costa County recognizes Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland as our designated pediatric trauma center.

The Emergency Medical Services Division of Contra Costa Health Services facilitates the coordination and oversight of trauma system care in the following ways:

  • There is a coordinated plan to support Trauma response throughout the county. See the plan.
  • Contra Costa complies with State regulations and guidelines for trauma. Learn more.
  • The designation of John Muir Medical Center-Walnut Creek as the single Level II trauma center to serve all of Contra Costa County.
  • Maintenance of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Level II Trauma Center Verification.
  • Designation of a pediatric trauma center to serve the special needs of infants and children. Learn more about our pediatric trauma center.
  • Full integration of the trauma system into the existing EMS system.
  • Field and hospital policies to support triage of all major trauma patients to a designated trauma center when possible.
  • Use of air ambulance (helicopter) services to reduce trauma transport times when appropriate.
  • Maintenance of a trauma registry to track trauma system and trauma system performance.
  • Jointly lead a bi-county trauma audit (quality assurance and improvement) process with Alameda County Emergency Medical Services and Trauma System to assure outside expert review of the trauma center and the trauma system on an ongoing basis.
  • Participation on the State Regional Trauma Care Committee working to improve trauma care throughout California.