Comprehensive Emergency Services at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center stands as a cornerstone of UCLA Health, providing a comprehensive range of healthcare services to the West Los Angeles area. With a rich history dating back to 1926, the medical center has evolved to meet the growing needs of Santa Monica and surrounding communities. It offers a blend of academic expertise and community accessibility. The 281-bed, full-service facility is committed to delivering state-of-the-art patient care, training top medical professionals, and supporting pioneering research.

A Legacy of Care and Innovation

Founded as Santa Monica's first hospital by Drs. William S. Mortensen and August B. Hromadka, the medical center joined the Lutheran Hospital Society in 1942, remaining there until 1988. In 1995, it became an integral part of UCLA Health. Rebuilt in phases after the 1994 Northridge earthquake to meet the latest seismic standards, the medical center integrates advanced medical technology with a welcoming environment. Over 25% of the medical campus is dedicated to green and open spaces, including a 40,000-square-foot garden and the 18,000-square-foot Harman Garden Plaza.

The Nethercutt Emergency Center: A Hub for Critical Care

The Nethercutt Emergency Center serves as a critical component of UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, treating nearly 50,000 patients annually. It is Santa Monica's only Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP). The 16,000-square-foot Nethercutt ER houses 22 beds and implements the latest technology, including an on-site CT scanner that speeds diagnosis and treatment of ailments such as chest pain, stroke, and breathing disorders. Other features include all-digital X-ray technology, comfortable rooms designed for both privacy and treatment flexibility, and an observation area that allows for continuous monitoring of patients before being admitted or discharged.

Specialized Services at the Nethercutt ER

The Nethercutt ER was the first designated "STEMI Receiving Center" for heart-attack patients on the Westside. It is also the city's only "Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics," meeting established guidelines for providing age-appropriate emergency care to infants, young children, and adolescents.

The center is actively working to transform the Nethercutt ER into a more child-friendly environment by using new tools and technologies that remove some of the pain and respond directly to the unique needs of children. It also offers a fast-track service for minor injuries and illnesses called fastER, which strives to treat qualifying patients within 90 minutes or less. FastER is available daily from 11 am to 11 pm.

Comprehensive Healthcare Services

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center provides a complete continuum of healthcare services, from prenatal and neonatal care to geriatric medicine. The medical center features several outstanding programs and services on or near its 4.5-acre medical campus.

Maternity and Pediatric Care

The BirthPlace is one of Southern California’s most comprehensive maternity centers, where approximately 1,500 babies are delivered each year. A 25-bed Pediatrics Unit operates as a unit of UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, serving as Santa Monica's only inpatient unit for pediatric care. The facility also includes a 16-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for specialized infant care.

Specialized Treatment Centers

The UCLA Rape Treatment Center and its Stuart House facility for sexually abused children serve as national models for the treatment of rape victims and their families. UCLA Breast Health, Santa Monica, offers personalized, multi-disciplinary breast care in a supportive environment. UCLA Radiology performs state-of-the-art imaging services in several locations throughout the Santa Monica campus, and the UCLA Spine Center provides comprehensive medical and surgical treatment for all spinal disorders, striving to be at the forefront of spinal research.

Additional Services

The hospital provides inpatient/outpatient services, a 24-hour emergency room, rape treatment services, physical medicine, and specialized programs. The ambulatory surgery unit, often referred to as outpatient or one-day surgery, is available for patients requiring surgery or medical procedures too complex for a doctor's office but not serious enough to require overnight hospitalization. The hospital's patient services (Santa Monica - UCLA Psychotherapy Group) offers related professional crisis and ongoing counseling services, help with plans, and linkage with patients and community agencies.

Emergency Care at UCLA Health

UCLA Health's emergency medicine team provides care to nearly 500,000 people a year at seven sites across the Los Angeles area. As leaders in emergency medicine, they offer specialized expertise in stroke, heart attack, trauma, and pediatric critical care. Using advanced technology, including on-site CT scanners, all-digital X-rays, and sophisticated cardiac catheterization labs, they respond to emergencies quickly and efficiently.

Read also: Navigating Tech Breadth at UCLA

Emergency Department Locations

UCLA Health operates several emergency departments, including:

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Emergency Department: 757 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095. Emergency department: 310-825-2111, Hospital information: 310-825-9111.
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center Emergency Department: 1250 16th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. Emergency department: 424-259-8400, Hospital information: 424-259-6000.
UCLA West Valley Medical Center Emergency Department: 7300 Medical Center Dr., West Hills, CA 91307. Emergency department: 818-676-4999, Hospital information: 818-676-4000.

When to Seek Emergency Care

It is crucial to know when to seek emergency care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:

Chest pain, chest pressure, or heart attack
Choking or difficulty breathing
Loss of consciousness
Moderate to severe burns
Poisoning or overdose
Seizure
Severe abdominal pain or severe vomiting
Severe bleeding or fractures
Stroke, sudden weakness, or inability to walk, talk, see, or move
Trauma to the head, neck, or back

For minor injuries or illnesses, such as the flu or a sprain, consider UCLA Health Immediate Care, which offers same-day visits for non-life-threatening medical issues.

What to Expect During an Emergency Department Visit

When you arrive in the ED, the team assesses your health and determines a path for your care. The visit involves several stages:

Triage: Checking in, creating a medical record, and reviewing symptoms. A nurse measures heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure and moves you to a treatment area.
Evaluation: A doctor and nurse coordinate care, deliver a diagnosis, and plan treatment. The doctor may order blood tests, urine tests, or imaging studies. After reviewing test results and explaining a diagnosis, the doctor recommends a treatment plan.
Registration: A member of the registration team confirms your address, primary care doctor, and insurance and pharmacy information.
Treatment: The care team provides treatment and answers any questions.
Discharge: The team gives detailed discharge instructions, coordinates follow-up care, and sends prescription medications to the pharmacy of your choice. Information about the ED visit is also sent to your primary care physician.

Some people need to be admitted to the hospital following an ED visit. If you need inpatient care, the team coordinates the transition, answers your questions, and communicates with specialists as necessary.

Read also: Understanding UCLA Counselors

Excellence in Emergency Medicine

UCLA Health's emergency medicine team is ready 24/7 to care for you and your family. Using the latest technology and effective treatments, they deliver lifesaving care quickly and efficiently.

Advanced treatment for all ages: The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Emergency Department is a Level I trauma center and pediatric critical care center. The Nethercutt Emergency Department in UCLA Health Santa Monica Medical Center has the only pediatric intensive care unit in the city of Santa Monica.
Expert care at several locations: Caring for nearly 500,000 people a year at seven sites across the Los Angeles area.
Highest quality stroke care: The UCLA Stroke Center is certified by The Joint Commission as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. The UCLA Health Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) was the first of its kind on the West Coast, delivering lifesaving treatments with a specially equipped ambulance.
Recognized expertise: As designated Mission: Lifeline® (STEMI) Heart Attack Receiving Centers, emergency departments have an established protocol to respond to heart attacks as quickly as possible, ensuring that heart attack patients reach the on-site cardiac catheterization lab in under 90 minutes.
Streamlined access to technology: On-site CT scanners speed diagnosis and treatment for a range of symptoms and conditions, including chest pain and stroke. EDs feature all-digital X-rays, state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs, and quick turnaround times for lab results.

Specialized Emergency Department Team

The emergency medicine team includes highly trained physicians and nurses to treat the full range of life-threatening conditions. Many physicians have additional training in critical care, toxicology, pediatric emergency medicine, and sports medicine. They also work with UCLA Health specialists to deliver state-of-the-art medical care.

Emergency departments offer specialized care for trauma, stroke, and heart attack, caring for all patients from pediatrics to geriatrics. The emergency departments at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, and UCLA West Valley Medical Center offer the highest quality emergency care to 160,000 patients every year, and together with affiliates, they care for over 500,000 patients per year.

Conditions Treated

Emergency medicine specialists treat a wide range of severe and life-threatening injuries and illnesses, including:

Abdominal pain, severe vomiting, overdose, or poisoning
Broken bones
Choking or trouble breathing
Head trauma, injury to the neck or spine, or loss of consciousness
Heart attack, chest pain, and chest pressure
Life-threatening allergic reactions
Seizures
Severe burns or bleeding
Stroke, sudden weakness, or trouble walking or talking

Why Choose UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center?

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center provides unparalleled care, blending the expertise of an academic medical center with the accessibility of a community hospital. Patients benefit from:

A patient-centered approach: Personalized care with tailored treatment plans and a compassionate approach.
Acclaimed excellence: Recognition, including the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence.
Collaborative partnerships: Strategic alliances, such as the one with the Orthopedic Institute for Children, expand reach and expertise.

tags: #UCLA #Santa #Monica #Medical #Center #emergency