Helping Kids Get Back to Being Kids

Having trauma centers at children’s hospitals saves lives each year, and improves health of community

Many people believe an emergency department (ED) and trauma center are the same thing. While emergency departments can treat a variety of conditions, trauma centers specialize in caring for those who have experienced any type of traumatic injury, such as auto accidents, sports injuries, falls, and pedestrian injuries.

Hospitals like MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, who are verified by the American College of Surgeons and designated by Los Angeles County as trauma centers, offer a fast response and centralized services with 24-hour access to a team of doctors and surgeons who specialize in the care of critically injured patients. “It’s about our surgical capabilities and our commitment to our community. We will take care of you from the moment you arrive to the ED to the time you go home,” said Stephanie Garcia, director, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

There are only seven trauma centers in Los Angeles to Orange county that are designated as pediatric Trauma Centers, one of which is MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach.

“The benefit of having a Level 2 trauma center, close to home, is we’re able to give pediatric patients specially tailored care with pediatric surgeons and specialists on hand 24/7,” says Garcia.

For pediatric patients, the trauma team service doesn’t end as soon as the child is stabilized. The benefit of a full-service children’s hospital is the seamless transfer of care to the Cherese Mari Laulhere Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where the patient continues to monitored. The PICU provides care to toddlers, children and teens who are critically ill or injured, with registered nurses, board-certified pediatric intensivists, and respiratory therapists onsite 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Other specialists continue to be a part of that patient’s plan of care until their condition improves — and offer services from rehab to coping mechanisms with the Child Life team — until the patient is ready to go home.

Across America, thousands of pedestrians are struck by cars annually, while walking or on bicycle, with hundreds of these accidents involving children. Los Angeles is the second deadliest city for pedestrians after New York.

“We expect to see an increase in auto vs. pedestrian cases as the weather gets warmer and children are traveling with their bikes to school and other events,” says Garcia. “Our goal is always to educate our community about the importance of safety That’s why I am so grateful for the Miller Children’s & Women’s Injury Prevention Program that teaches important safety precautions to children and families in the community.”

“However, should you need us, we are here 24/7. Nobody wants to imagine something bad happening to family or loved ones,” says Garcia. “Since we are connected to MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, if a family were to get in an accident nearby, we can treat everyone — from a pregnant mother to a child to a grandparent — with the highest level of specialty care and physicians onsite.”

The Injury Prevention Program at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital provides educational information on pedestrian safety, helmet and bike safety, teen safe driving, car seat safety, and more.

To contact or learn more about the Injury Prevention Program, call (562) 933-9151.