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Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center was recently designated as San Luis Obispo County's trauma center.

It means that come March 1, anytime someone gets into a severe accident in the county, they will be rushed straight to the San Luis Obispo hospital, no matter where in the county the accident happens.

"What we mainly see in our community is blunt trauma, so not the knife and gun club that you'd see in Los Angeles or an inner city area," said Trauma Program Manager Sue Fortier.

Car accidents and recreational crashes, such as at the Oceano dunes or Lake Nacimiento, make up the majority of traumatic injuries in the county.

"Trauma is a big problem here. It's the number one killer of persons age 1-44. It really is a disease that attacks the young. It's important to have a system that focused on the care of these individuals," said Fortier.

Sierra Vista administrators have prepared for this designation for years by putting in place a trauma team, working to comply with state and national standards, installing a landing pad for patients transported by helicopter and working with the county to put in place a trauma plan.

"We offered the opportunity for one hospital in the central part of the county. If you dilute your resources then you're not getting the experience and building up the expertise with those who are involved, " said County Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein.

She said Sierra Vista was the only hospital to apply.

Arroyo Grande Community Hospital did put up a fight, arguing, for example, if a person is injured at the Oceano dunes the patient should be rushed to the nearest hospital and not trekked a half hour to San Luis Obispo.

Dr. Borenstein said studies show patients have better outcomes going directly to a trauma center.

"They'll be able to get a whole team that's activated and a system that will put everything into place immediately for them," said Borenstein.

Borenstein said about 400 trauma patients a year will be seen at the trauma center.