Puerto Rico is moving forward with a $140 million project to construct its first-ever Level 1 trauma center in San Juan,addressing a long-standing gap in critical care infrastructure.Governor Jenniffer González announced the plans Tuesday for the 226,000-square-foot,ten-story facility,which will be built within the centro Médico complex using federal funding. The new hospital aims to dramatically improve emergency medical services on the island and is designed to meet stringent industry standards for trauma care, a need highlighted by the regionS vulnerability to natural disasters and increasing demands on the existing healthcare system.
Puerto Rico is poised to significantly upgrade its trauma care capabilities with the planned construction of a new, state-of-the-art hospital in San Juan. The project, announced Tuesday by Governor Jenniffer González, aims to establish the island’s first Level 1 trauma center, addressing a critical need for advanced emergency medical services.
The $140 million facility will be built using federal funds on a portion of the Pedro Arzuaga Beraza plaza within the Centro Médico complex. Plans call for a 226,000-square-foot building spanning 10 stories and featuring 110 private rooms, with the ability to double capacity during major emergencies.
“This hospital has been serving the people of Puerto Rico for decades with structural limitations,” Governor González stated. “We have decided, along with the Secretary of Health and the director of ASEM (Medical Services Administration), both doctors, to redesign and conceptualize a new Trauma Hospital that meets not only federal and industry standards, but also addresses the realities of the people of Puerto Rico.” Construction is slated to begin during the final quarter of 2026.
The redesign, unveiled during a roundtable discussion, will be implemented in phases, with each stage becoming operational as it is completed. By 2028, officials anticipate the first two floors will be ready, including a stabilization unit, emergency room, a 52-seat waiting area, and a covered area capable of accommodating seven ambulances simultaneously.
The initial phases will also include a 20-room intensive care unit with isolation capabilities, a 120-person auditorium, an outdoor terrace, and recreational areas.
Subsequent levels will house a physical rehabilitation center, intermediate care facilities, administrative offices, and the ASEM Disaster Control and Operational Monitoring Center. A helipad capable of handling larger, heavier helicopters will be located on the tenth floor.
“We have never had a building constructed specifically for this purpose,” explained Regino Colón Alsina, Executive Director of ASEM. “Existing trauma care has always been adapted from different areas of the hospital. The current trauma hospital was the ASEM outpatient clinics, which were remodeled and adapted for the function. With this structure and this project, we not only expect the hospital to have a structural area to deliver trauma service at the highest levels, but also to be functional for clinical staff and the patient themselves.”
Health Secretary Víctor Ramos indicated that achieving Level 1 trauma certification from the American College of Surgeons requires meeting over 100 criteria. According to internal analyses, they currently meet approximately 70% of those requirements, a significant increase from the 20% compliance rate of the previous design.
Construction phases will become operational as they are completed. However, the ASEM director could not provide a definitive timeline for the project’s overall completion.
The new design incorporates resilience features, including ramps for transporting stretchers from all floors to the building’s front entrance. The expanded facility will also require an increase in staffing levels.
