Solano County`s first Level II trauma center to be named today

Oct. 10--Sometime today, Solano County will name its first Level II Trauma Center, with two local hospitals vying for the designation.

The choice between Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center and Fairfield's NorthBay Medical Center will be decided by the Solano Emergency Medical Services Cooperative. Both facilities are now Level III, and Level I is highest.

"A level II trauma center cares for the most seriously injured individuals and both (hospitals) are interested in providing that service for the residents of this county," said Ted Selby, Solano Emergency Medical Services Cooperative director. "It's a service we haven't' offered in the county to this point and will certainly improve the transport times for those affected with severe injuries."

Walnut Creek's John Muir Medical Center and UC Davis Medical Center, which have been the area's trauma centers, will likely continue getting some Solano County patients because in some cases they'll be the closest appropriate trauma center, Selby said.

Selby's agency partnered with the American College of Surgeons, national trauma center experts, to help make the best selection, and a review board is expected to present its recommendation to the EMS board by 11 a.m. today, Selby said.

The designation is likely to last for many years, he and an administrator for Kaiser Vacaville said. NorthBay spokesman Steve Huddleston said that like Kaiser, NorthBay officials believe their hospital is the better choice, citing location among other benefits.

"It's important because our citizens need this life-saving care. It's about saving lives, about having the right resources and making sure people get the best care possible," Kaiser Vacaville administrator Max Villalobos said. "The key is that you can only have one (level II trauma) center per 400,000 population, so this decision will last for generations."

The trauma center is open to everyone, and not just Kaiser members should Kaiser win the designation, Villalobos said.

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or rzrihen@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at Rachelvth.

Copyright 2013 - Times-Herald, Vallejo, Calif.