Harbor-UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine

The Harbor-UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine was established in 1978 and its Emergency Medicine residency program is one of the first in the nation. For 30 years, Harbor has delivered high quality emergency medical and trauma services to both the uninsured and insured members of the surrounding communities. In addition, Harbor has trained numerous outstanding resident physicians who are now academic professors, ED directors, clinical and bench researchers, public health practitioners, health policy creators, and excellent emergency clinicians.

The Department of Emergency Medicine consists of Adult, Pediatric, and Psychiatric areas. The Adult Emergency Department has 41 patient care spaces and an annual census of 48,000 patients. Approximately 25% of patients seen in the ED are admitted to the hospital. The Pediatric Emergency Department has 12 beds and an annual census of 22,000 patients. An additional 26,000 patients are seen yearly in the Urgent Care Center and the Ob/Gyn Urgent Care clinic. In total, the hospital averages nearly 100,000 emergency visits each year with 23,000 admissions.

Reflecting the hospital's continuous commitment to improving patient care, plans for the new 37,000 square foot Emergency Department with 58 adult and 30 pediatric beds have been finalized and construction has begun (artist rendition above.)

In 1983, Harbor-UCLA became one of the first trauma centers in Los Angeles County. At that time, it was one of 22 centers in the County network. Today, Harbor is the only ACS Level I Trauma center serving the greater South Bay and South Central area of Los Angeles (Harbor Trauma Catchment Area).

In May 2007, Harbor-UCLA was designated as a ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Receiving Center, a priority transport destination for paramedics who identify possible heart attack patients in the field. As a STEMI Receiving Center, Harbor is part of a network created by the County's Emergency Medical Services Agency to expedite the provision of the highest quality of cardiac care, including immediate cardiac catherization.

Harbor-UCLA Emergency Department is a key homeland-security and disaster-response asset due to its proximity to potential national security interests and its Level I Trauma designation. Harbor-UCLA is the home of the South Bay Disaster Resource Center (SBDRC), which is funded with Office of Homeland Security federal grant monies. The SBDRC is responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness training and planning for the Greater South Bay/South-Central Los Angeles area.