Where would you transport a pregnant pediatric trauma patient?

• A. UCSD Hillcrest
• B. Sanford USD Medical Center
• C. Avera McKennan
• D. St. Mary's Medical Center

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to take a pregnant patient who has trauma to a facility that can handle both obstetric/maternal care and pediatric trauma, ideally a Level I trauma center with obstetric and neonatal capabilities. This ensures immediate fetal monitoring, potential delivery if needed, and specialized neonatal care, while also providing full trauma management for the injured child. UCSD Hillcrest is presented as the best option because it is equipped to handle these combined needs—obstetric services for mother and fetal monitoring, surgical and neonatal resources for the baby, and a comprehensive trauma team ready to manage complex injuries. The other hospitals may not offer the same integrated obstetric and pediatric trauma resources, which is why transporting to a center with those capabilities is preferred for a pregnant pediatric trauma patient.