A scary accident along Kings County roads can leave victims with something far beyond a scrape or a bruise. A serious injury can send victims to any one of the local trauma centers in the area.
When you suffer a serious injury in an accident you should seek treatment as soon as possible. After your injuries are stabilized you should talk to a local attorney about your accident. At-fault drivers and their car insurance providers should be held accountable for the bills you collect while in the hospital and any additional care needed in the weeks to come.
Contact an attorney with Maison Law serving Hanford and Kings County for a free assessment of your case. We want to help you focus on your recovery without the worry of your hospital bills and monthly expenses that may be going unpaid.
Seeking Help at a Central Valley Trauma Center
Conventionally called emergency rooms, a Trauma Center is a medical care unit found in a licensed hospital. California has laws that designate the levels of each trauma center and outlines what is required to meet a certain level.
California’s 81 designated Trauma Centers receive and admit over 70,000 patients per year. They are designated by a Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA). At minimum Trauma Centers must offer a multidisciplinary trauma team and a basic emergency department. Some of the specially trained health care providers at trauma centers may include trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, cardiac surgeons, and radiologists.
What is a Traumatic Injury?
Physical trauma is caused by forces outside the body, either blunt or penetrating, that cause injuries that require immediate medical treatment. These serious injuries can be caused by a fall, a car accident, assaults, burns, and other hazards.
Fresno County Level I Trauma Center
Victims suffering the most severe injuries in Kings County will likely be sent to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. The downtown hospital houses Table Mountain Rancheria Trauma Center. It’s the only Level 1 trauma center between Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Community Regional Medical Center & Table Mountain Rancheria Trauma Center
2823 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 459-6000
Visalia Level III Trauma Center
As a designated Level III Trauma Center, Kaweah Delta Medical Center provides 24-hour emergency services for illness and injury in Visalia. The Emergency Department treats over 90,000 patients each year from Tulare, Kings, and surrounding counties.
KAWEAH DELTA HEALTH CARE DISTRICT
400 W MINERAL KING AVE.
VISALIA, CA 93291
(559) 624-2000
Kern County Level II Trauma Center
Kern Medical has been a state-designated Level II trauma center since 2001. They can see over 3,000 trauma patients a year.
Kern Medical
1700 Mount Vernon Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93306
(661) 326-2000
Types of Trauma Centers In California
Like most states, California uses a level system to designate the type of trauma care available with each center. These are defined by the California Emergency Medical Services (EMSA).
- Level I and level II trauma centers are equipped and staffed to offer the highest level of medical care. They have similar medical professionals and resources with the greatest difference being that level I’s are research and teaching facilities.
- Level III and level IV trauma centers generally provide initial stabilization of trauma patients. Some patients are transferred from Level III and IV to Level I & II when needed. Level III facilities generally have more advanced surgical capabilities than Level IV facilities.
- Pediatric trauma centers focus specifically on care for infants, children, and adolescents. The Level I pediatric centers require some additional pediatric specialties, research, and teaching responsibilities.
Kings County Emergency Room
Adventist Health– Hanford
115 Mall Drive, Hanford
(559) 582-9000
