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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 28, 2003

The San Diego region has one of the best and most coordinated trauma care systems in the United States, according to a new report requested by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

The report was released at a press conference at 2:30 p.m. today at Scripps Mercy Hospital.

The Trauma System Assessment Study 2003, done by The Abaris Group, concluded that San Diego’s network of emergency medical providers and trauma centers provides San Diego County residents with superior care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“This report is a testament to the outstanding work done every day by the men and women who make San Diego County’s trauma system a success,” said County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who requested in February 2002 that the Board commission the report. “We requested this evaluation to ensure that San Diego’s system provides the best care possible to our residents – and this report indicates that it does.”

The Abaris Group, an emergency medical systems consulting group, focused on three key areas, including system configuration, clinical care and fiscal status. The consultants determined that San Diego County’s trauma centers are operating at a “best practice” level as related to cost control and financial management, with a strong commitment to quality achievement.

“The Abaris Group is unaware of any other trauma system in the country where there has remained, over time, the sense of mutual commitment and depth of quality review that has been demonstrated in San Diego,” the consultants wrote.

The consultants also found that, while the trauma centers are solvent, projections indicate that revenue will steadily decrease. The group recommended that the County and hospitals join together to pursue stable funding. San Diego County has six trauma centers, at UCSD Medical Center, Children's, Palomar Medical Center, Scripps Mercy, Scripps Memorial and Sharp Memorial hospitals.

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Contact: Darren Pudgil (619) 531-5894