Highland Hospital (Oakland, California)

Highland Hospital is a public hospital located in Oakland, California, in Alameda County. It is operated by the Alameda Health System and serves as the primary trauma center and county hospital for Alameda County.

Highland Hospital has been designated as an adult Level I trauma center since August 3, 2017, making it the first in the East Bay area to receive this distinction. It has also been an adult Level II trauma center since 1985 and operates the busiest emergency department in the county. The hospital is affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and is home to the UCSF East Bay Surgery Program. Its medical residency programs are highly competitive and sought after nationwide.

In October 2020, the staff at Highland Hospital went on strike to improve patient safety. The management had been subcontracting jobs to the private sector, leading to the loss of benefits for employees. The strike successfully prompted Alameda County to replace the executive board and bring in managers who prioritize patient care. This action was taken in response to long wait times in the emergency room, which had reached six to eight hours.

Highland Hospital gained recognition as the setting for the 2012 documentary film and social media project titled The Waiting Room. Directed by Peter Nicks, the film provides a glimpse into the daily experiences of patients, doctors, and staff at Highland Hospital.

For more information on the history of Highland Hospital, refer to the article on the Alameda Health System.

See also

• List of hospitals in California

External links

• Official website
• Alameda Health System Homepage