Natividad Trauma Center Plans Five-Year Quality-Improvement Partnership Worth Up to $122,540

SALINAS, Calif. — October 27, 2026. Natividad Medical Center is set to participate in a national trauma-care benchmarking program under an agreement with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) carrying a maximum county obligation of $122,540 through June 30, 2031.

Monterey County’s online record for Board item A 26-444 is marked passed as of October 27. The agreement covers participation in the ACS Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP), which uses standardized case information to compare hospital performance and identify possible improvements.

What the partnership is designed to do

The county report identifies Natividad as an ACS-verified adult Level II trauma center. Through TQIP, the hospital expects to receive comparative, risk-adjusted performance reports and educational tools. Clinicians can use that information to review care processes and patient-safety work over time.

The agreement does not establish that a particular patient outcome has already improved, that emergency treatment has changed overnight or that Natividad is opening a new trauma unit. It funds data analysis and quality-improvement participation rather than a specific construction project.

Costs and timing

The published contract term is July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with the base maximum stated at $122,540. The board item separately authorizes the possibility of qualifying amendments up to 10% of the original amount, subject to requirements, potentially raising the ceiling to $134,794. That larger amount is not an approved payment or evidence it will be spent.

The county report says this participation was reviewed by Natividad’s Finance Committee and Board of Trustees before reaching the supervisors. The online board item shows Passed, while the overall meeting’s finalized minutes were not available at publication.

Related Natividad report: The county is also considering a separate nearby housing lease for trauma physician services. This is distinct from the quality-improvement contract and should not be combined with its budget.

Related coverage added October 27, 2026.

Primary source: Monterey County, A 26-444, October 27 legislative record and full Natividad staff report.

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