Which hospital serves as the adult catchment area trauma center?

• A. Sharp Memorial
• B. Rady Children's Hospital
• C. UCSD Medical Center
• D. Scripps Memorial

Answer: (A)

The important idea here is routing severely injured adults to the hospital in the system designated to provide definitive adult trauma care. In this region’s protocol, Sharp Memorial is the designated adult catchment area trauma center, meaning it has the full trauma team, 24/7 operating room access, ICU capability, imaging, and blood bank needed for major adult injuries. Rady Children’s Hospital is the pediatric trauma center, tailored for children, while UCSD Medical Center and Scripps Memorial have their own trauma roles but are not the primary adult center for this area. So for an adult trauma patient, the guideline directs transport to Sharp Memorial unless the patient’s pediatric status necessitates a pediatric facility.