Level One Trauma Center (Phoenix, Flagstaff: insurance, university, live in)

[DellNec]

Flagstaff has a population of 65,000 people and it has a Level One Trauma Center. Yet, the Prescott area has a population of 105,000 people (Tri-city: Prescott, PV and Chino Valley) and it does NOT have a Level One Trauma Center.

How does Flagstaff sustain a LV1 Trauma Center, yet Prescott does not?

Anyone out in Flagstaff know how they do it? Who funds it?

[Greatday]

IMO, Flagstaff has more opportunity to need a Level 1. Interstate 40 - the proximity to the Navajo Nation - the population of the surrounding area (Williams, Holbrook, Winslow)

[CodyW]

Flagstaff serves as more of a regional hub for Northern Arizona than Prescott does for its region. Flagstaff Medical Center is the only major hospital for quite some distance, and with locations as remote as they can be in the far reaches of Northern AZ, it's necessary to have essential services at the only available hub.

Prescott has the odd situation of being, in my opinion, too close to Phoenix/Flagstaff to sustain service levels that many would expect to come along with a population Prescott's size.

[ohazco]

I agree with the above posts. I know the hospital works closely with the University... not sure if that makes any difference or not too.

[DellNec]

Who funds the hospitals trauma center in Flagstaff, is it private?

On average, there is one person is transported by helicopter each day from Prescott to Flagstaff or Phoenix's Level One Trauma Center. The helicopter ride to Flagstaff is around $15K or more. That's $5.5 million a year in helicopter-rides. Someone is making A LOT of money by NOT having a LV1 Trauma Center in Prescott.

Even though it is expensive to operate a LV1 Trauma Center, the Flagstaff LV1 Trauma Center does not seem to be crying poor.

I think if Flagstaff has a LV1 Trauma Center with a population of 65,000 people and Prescott with 105,000 people, is just as remote as Flagstaff is, funding was made to Flag, why not Prescott? Something doesn't seem right and like usual, if you follow the money trail the answer will appear. I believe the air evac unit out of Flagstaff is making a good chunk of change flying people from Prescott to Flagstaff.

[ohazco]

So why did you ask?

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by DellNec

Who funds the hospitals trauma center in Flagstaff, is it private?

On average, there is one person is transported by helicopter each day from Prescott to Flagstaff or Phoenix's Level One Trauma Center. The helicopter ride to Flagstaff is around $15K or more. That's $5.5 million a year in helicopter-rides. Someone is making A LOT of money by NOT having a LV1 Trauma Center in Prescott.

Even though it is expensive to operate a LV1 Trauma Center, the Flagstaff LV1 Trauma Center does not seem to be crying poor.

I think if Flagstaff has a LV1 Trauma Center with a population of 65,000 people and Prescott with 105,000 people, is just as remote as Flagstaff is, funding was made to Flag, why not Prescott? Something doesn't seem right and like usual, if you follow the money trail the answer will appear. I believe the air evac unit out of Flagstaff is making a good chunk of change flying people from Prescott to Flagstaff.

You might want to read they some of the Google links to understand why. IN THE MEANTIME THE METRO AREA I LIVE IN IS OVER 300K IN POPULATION. If we need Level 1 we still need a helo ride.

[Greatday]

IMO, Northern Arizona does not need 2 Level 1 Trauma centers. Flagstaff is, IMO, the logical location. One reason being if they need to transport by airplane, they have the close proximity to Pulliam Field. Its not so close in Prescott.

No, I think Flagstaff makes more sense.

[DellNec]

Originally Posted by Greatday

IMO, Northern Arizona does not need 2 Level 1 Trauma centers. Flagstaff is, IMO, the logical location. One reason being if they need to transport by airplane, they have the close proximity to Pulliam Field. Its not so close in Prescott.

No, I think Flagstaff makes more sense.

The issue is really of life and death. In cases of LV1 Trauma care, getting to a trauma center in 5-10 minutes vs. 45 minutes can mean life or death.

The other issue is cost. Most insurance companies will NOT cover air transport costs. These can be in the $15k - $25k range.

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by DellNec

The other issue is cost.

This is true, but then you need the justification for the cost.