Trauma Critical Care Symposium - 2026

Registration Details

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23rd Annual Trauma/Critical Care Symposium

Friday, July 24, 2026

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Trauma Services presents the 23rd Annual Trauma/Critical Care Symposium to educate healthcare professionals about current evidence-based research and advances in trauma care.

Educational Objectives

• Explain the advantages of whole blood, including the ability to simplify and streamline transfusion in acute care and the impact on survival outcomes in the prehospital setting.
• Examine the coordination and communication strategies during a prolonged incident, including key operational, safety and medical considerations.
• Identify risk factors for rattlesnake bites, examine prehospital and in-hospital treatment strategies and compare available antivenin products.
• Recognize common traumatic cervical and thoracolumbar fracture patterns in older adults and integrate clinical findings, spinal stability, and injury mechanisms to guide operative versus non-operative management and the urgency of intervention.
• Identify early signs of deterioration in surgical patients and apply a structured approach to escalation and management, while recognizing systems-based factors that influence failure to rescue, team coordination and patient outcomes.
• Identify how resources are assembled and organized while respecting jurisdictional areas, unique hazards, response considerations and extended care for the caregivers.
• Apply practical strategies to reduce missed injuries by identifying high-risk pediatric trauma presentations that may initially appear benign and recognizing common cognitive and diagnostic pitfalls.
• Summarize the impact of trauma on military service members, including strategies to remove stigma around seeking help and approaches to support healing at home and in the workplace.
• Evaluate indications for ECMO in trauma and critical illness by integrating patient physiology to select appropriate VV or VA support and anticipate common complications and management challenges.

Symposium Schedule