Medical Staff Services

Trauma Center

Mission Regional Trauma Center was the first center of its kind in south Orange County and remains on the forefront as the designated trauma center. As a Level II trauma facility, we are prepared to address the most critical cases immediately, and we maintain everything necessary to treat life-threatening injuries around the clock. Continuing his founding father's legacy, Medical Director John Shaver, MD and our dedicated specialists handle approximately 1,000 traumas each year. Our continuum of care begins with prevention and education and progresses to resuscitation, surgery, critical intensive care and a robust rehabilitation program that helps patients return to healthy, productive lives.

Our Traumatic Brain Injury program, also a recipient of the Ernest A. Codman Award, offers the advanced capabilities and expertise to treat a full spectrum of head injuries. Patients are immediately transported to our computed tomography (CT) scanner for evaluation, and if necessary, to an awaiting neurosurgeon within 30 minutes. The program was one of the first in the nation to use brain oxygen monitors to better gauge and amend treatments.

Stroke Center

Expert help for stroke is always available at Mission Stroke Center. We are committed to immediately diagnosing, treating and managing patients who exhibit signs of stroke. Offering the region's most comprehensive advanced-neuro care with today's most advanced interventional treatment options, including mechanical intracranial clot retrieval, Arctic Sun hypothermia protocol and more. Orange County Emergency Medical Services designated Mission Hospital a Stroke-Neurology Receiving Center in addition to Joint Commission-certification as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. At Mission, we help set the benchmark for outcome measurement, which aids in improving systems and processes for stroke patients.

Acute Rehabilitation Program

This 21-bed unit is CARF-accredited in Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation, Traumatic Brain Injury Medical Inpatient Rehabilitation and Stroke. Through the concerted efforts of our exceptional people, our outcomes continue to significantly exceed the regional and national outcomes averages in most indicators.

Services provided include:

• Rehabilitation Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Psychological/Neuropsychological Services
• Social Services
• Therapeutic Recreation

Heart Center

Staffed by board certified affiliated physicians and highly skilled nurses and technologists, Mission Heart Center provides the highest level of cardiac care in south Orange County. From our cardiac surgery program, including a nationally recognized coronary artery bypass graph (CABG) program and the delicate, lifesaving aortic arch replacement surgery, to our comprehensive cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program, Mission Heart Center is devoted to providing advanced patient care and safety through treatment, diagnosis, research, education and prevention. Mission Hospital is a designated Cardiac Receiving Center by the Orange County Emergency Medical Services.

CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital

CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital serves as the only dedicated pediatric health care facility in south Orange County, the surrounding coastal areas and north San Diego County. You'll find a team of world-class physicians and nurses providing compassionate, innovative care for patients ranging from the most fragile of newborns to the most rambunctious of teenagers.

One of CHOC Children's major focuses is "family-centered care," which involves each patient and his or her caregivers in all aspects of treatment and recovery. A family-centered approach to care empowers families by involving them in decision-making processes while respecting their values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds.

Vitek Institute for Robotic Surgery

Dick and Marilyn Vitek of Dana Point donated $1 million to establish the Vitek Institute for Robotic Surgery at Mission Hospital - the first robotics program in south Orange County. This gift enabled Mission to purchase the da Vinci S Surgical System, a state-of-the-art robotic system that has been named "Vitek" in their honor. 

This technology allows for more precision than traditional surgical methods and results in less blood loss and pain, lower risk of complications, shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times than those who have open surgery. Everything from prostate surgery to complex gynecological surgeries can be performed by doctors using the robotic arms in place of the surgeon's hands.

California Health Care Associated Infection Prevention Initiative

Mission Hospital was one of nine hospitals partnering with Blue Shield of California Foundation to launch the California Hospital Acquired Infection Prevention Initiative (CHAIPI).

In the first 18 months of the program, the CHAIPI hospitals collectively achieved:

• A 10 percent reduction in respiratory infections
• A 9.5 percent reduction in blood infections
• A 4 percent reduction in urinary infections

Working At Mission Hospital

Physicians rate us a one of the best places to practice. In fact, we received 5-star awards in the following areas: Overall Quality of Care, As a Place to Practice Medicine, Emergency Services, Nursing Care, Medical Records, and Laboratory Services. To earn a 5-star award, we had to place in the top 10% of the PRC national database for the prior year. We also received 4-star awards for Surgical Services, Radiology, Anesthesia, Pathology and Hospitalist Services. To earn a 4-star award, we had to score within the 75th and 89.9th percentile of the PRC national database for the prior year.

Continuing Education

Mission Hospital is accredited by the Institute for Medical Quality, a subsidiary of the California Medical Association, to provide continuing medical education for physicians. We offer weekly one-hour courses as well as regularly scheduled conferences. A sample of courses is below:

• Cancer Conference is the only program of its kind in Orange County -- encourages patient participation and examination in the treatment planning process. This enables a highly trained multidisciplinary team to develop a complete picture of you as an individual and your specific circumstances. The conference empowers doctors to provide optimal treatment recommendations. Every Friday, 12:30 p.m.
• Quarterly 4-hour courses – Scheduled quarterly, these courses provide physicians with four continuing education credits. Sample courses include a cardiology update, conference about neurology and stroke, and more.

For more information, please call the Medical Staff Office at 949-364-7756.

Apply Now

An application packet for appointment to the Medical Staff and/or for clinical privileges will be provided to an inquirer who meets the minimum eligibility criteria. This includes the following:

• Unrestricted license to practice (medicine, dentistry, podiatry or psychology) in the state of California
• Board Certified by the specialty board pertaining to the practitioner’s clinical privileges or must become board certified within five years of the practitioner’s completion of his/her training program. Specialty board means a national board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Osteopathic Association, the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, the American Board of Dentistry or the American Board of Addiction Medicine. This requirement does not apply to licensed clinical psychologists.

An application packet for Medical Staff pre-application, Allied Health Professional status and clinical privileges will be provided to an inquirer who meets the minimum eligibility criteria for the category for which they are applying. To obtain an application packet, contact Medical Staff Services at 949-364-7756.

All practitioners must have primary residency and primary medical practice in Orange County, California.

A copy of a current California licensure must accompany all requests.