THE BATTLE OVER WHICH SALINAS HOSPITAL SHOULD BE NAMED A TRAUMA CENTER, OFFICIALLY ENDED TODAY. NATIVIDAD MEDICAL CENTER WAS NAMED THE FIRST-LEVEL TWO TRAUMA CENTER IN MONTEREY COUNTY. SUPERVISORS MET TODAY TO HEAR RECOMMENDATIONS MADE FROM A STATE PANEL OF EXPERTS, WHO REVIEWED BOTH NATIVIDAD AND SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LAST MONTH ON WHICH WOULD BE MOST QUALIFIED TO BEST SERVE TRAUMA PATIENTS IN THE COUNTY. BOTH HOSPITALS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO MONTEREY COUNTY FOR THE DESIGNATION IN MID AUGUST. NATIVIDAD IS EXPECTED TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL AS A TRAUMA CENTER BY 2015.
