About Trauma Services

Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) is the designated and verified Level II Trauma center serving West Ventura county.  

VCMC is dedicated to providing the most effective, efficient trauma care to the critically injured patient in Ventura County. Our impressive team of surgeons consists of trauma and critical care-trained surgeons, with extensive experience in trauma care, as well as the only trauma-trained orthopedist in Ventura County. All of our physicians are surrounded by and supported by exceptionally trained nurses and technicians.

This team approach to caring for the patient, is enforced by monthly mock trauma drills, in addition to weekly lectures with the hospital residents in trauma care. The trauma team consists of a physician leader, nurse leader, respiratory therapist, ICU staff and ancillary staff. Additionally, they rely on the expertise of x-ray technicians, lab technicians and phlebotomists. This organized approach to trauma care has been proven to save lives in study after study. A phrase called the "Halo Effect" was termed to describe the benefit of focused attention on Trauma Care increasing the standard of care throughout the hospital. This is borne out by Ventura County Medical Center’s reputation for excellence.

VCMC’s approach to trauma care is the natural evolution of the hospital’s culture of organization and structure. This is important since the setting of treating a severely injured person can easily become chaotic. A dedicated trauma team is of critical importance in treating acutely ill patients. Trauma is the number one cause of death for people in their early ‘40s, regardless of gender, race or economic status; the third cause of death for people of all ages, gender, race or economic status. A dedicated trauma team requires discipline and a commitment from all levels of the organization to maintain the standard of excellence necessary – which Ventura County Medical Center offers. VCMC’s trauma team offers rapid response, planning and the highest level of care of the injured patient.

Ventura County Medical Center provides excellence in the following trauma services:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedics
• Cardiology
• Reconstructive surgery
• Anesthesiology

This standard of trauma care is the hallmark of the maturity of the trauma system at VCMC. Multiple guidelines and protocols are in place, with the ER, neurosurgery, orthopedics and general surgery departments enthusiastic and dedicated to providing the most excellent trauma care in Ventura County.