UC Davis Medical Center is preparing to treat patients with some of the world's most dangerous diseases as Northern California's first Special Pathogen Treatment Center. The Sacramento hospital will be able to care for illnesses such as Ebola and Marburg virus, positioning the facility as a critical response hub for infectious disease emergencies spanning from California's Central Valley to the Oregon border.
The medical center's new designation as a National Special Pathogens System Level 2 facility comes through $1.2 million in funding from the California Department of Public Health, marking a critical expansion of the state's outbreak response infrastructure. This investment will transform the facility into one of only two National Special Pathogens System hospitals providing specialized special pathogen assessment and treatment to California patients outside Los Angeles County.
As reported by Davis Enterprise, UC Davis will join Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as one of only two NSPS hospitals providing specialized special pathogen assessment and treatment to California patients outside Los Angeles County. As the regional Level 1 treatment facility, Cedars-Sinai will partner with UC Davis to help develop preparedness and response capabilities, enhancing the state's overall readiness.
Leadership and Capabilities
According to Davis Enterprise, Angel Desai, associate professor of Infectious Diseases, and Christian Sandrock, director of critical care, will lead the new Level 2 center at UC Davis Medical Center. "We are proud to be part of a robust network of hospitals dedicated to treating highly contagious infectious diseases," Desai shared.
The medical center, located at 2315 Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento, will serve a massive 65,000-square-mile region covering 33 counties and 6 million residents. Per Mirage News, Level 2 facilities are designed to deliver specialized care to clusters of patients and serve as primary centers for patient care throughout the duration of illness.
Infrastructure Upgrades
The transformation involves significant infrastructure upgrades funded by the state investment. As detailed by Davis Enterprise, the $1.2 million from CDPH includes maintenance of airborne infection isolation rooms, investment in specialized equipment, and enhanced training for medical staff to ensure safe and effective care for patients infected with special pathogens.
"The California Department of Public Health is pleased to announce its partnership with the University of California, Davis," said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Erica Pan, as quoted by Mirage News. "CDPH will support UC Davis Medical Center in becoming a Special Pathogen Treatment Center, the second center that can serve statewide and the first in Northern California."
