helicopter ambulance use (Huntsville, Athens: insurance, transfer, buy)

[harry chickpea]

This one has me scratching my head. There was a five car pileup on 72 west of Athens just beyond the Dollar General and MULTIPLE air ambulances landed on the highway. That location cannot be more than ten miles from the Athens Limestone hospital on major roadways.

In case you don't know it, air ambulance is an horrendously expensive "treat" often not covered by insurance. I've seen the new vehicle ambulances from the hospital tooling around, so I'm fairly sure there is no shortage. Is this a case of someone trying to justify new toys that make little difference to patients other than bankruptcy?

[AU HSV]

yeah that's it
5 vehicle wreck one fatality, Medflight went to Huntsville Hospital

[bmrisko]

Athens Limestone isn't really equipped to treat major trauma...

[writerwife]

I wouldn't call it a treat. My husband was taken by med flight to Hsv hosp very recently. Unfortunately, He didn't survive much longer than the flight took. Fortunately he survived long enough for me to see him and be with him when he died. A regular ambulance would never have made it and I wouldn't have been able to see him one last time.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by bmrisko

Athens Limestone isn't really equipped to treat major trauma...

Please describe the differences, recognizing that both A-L and Huntsville are run by the same group.

Does one have the machine that goes "ping!" and the other not?

Even if that were the case, ever hear of the "golden hour?" Where did the copters come from? How long did it take to get there? How long would an ambulance dispatch take?

I'm sorry, I just don't buy it without someone spelling it out for me. I fully understand is someone was injured in the Dismals and needed care ASAP, but less than ten minutes from an emergency room???

[bmrisko]

HSV is a Level 1 trauma center. Athens-Limestone is a Level 3 trauma center.

http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/a...a-centers.html

Level I
A Level I trauma center provides the highest level of surgical care to trauma patients. Being treated at a Level I trauma center increases a seriously injured patient’s chances of survival by an estimated 20 to 25 percent.[16] It has a full range of specialists and equipment available 24 hours a day[17] and admits a minimum required annual volume of severely injured patients. In addition, these trauma centers must be able to provide care for pediatric patients. Many Level II trauma centers would qualify for Level I if they were equipped to handle all pediatric emergencies.

A Level I trauma center is required to have a certain number of the following people on duty 24 hours a day at the hospital:

surgeons
emergency physicians
anesthesiologists
nurses
an education program
preventive and outreach programs.
Key elements include 24‑hour in‑house coverage by general surgeons and prompt availability of care in varying specialties — such as orthopedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, otolaryngology and oral and maxillofacial surgery (trained to treat injuries of the facial skin, muscles, bones), and critical care, which are needed to adequately respond and care for various forms of trauma that a patient may suffer and rehabilitation services.

Most Level I trauma centers are teaching hospitals/campuses. Additionally, a Level I center has a program of research, is a leader in trauma education and injury prevention, and is a referral resource for communities in nearby regions.[18]

Level II
A Level II trauma center works in collaboration with a Level I center. It provides comprehensive trauma care and supplements the clinical expertise of a Level I institution. It provides 24-hour availability of all essential specialties, personnel, and equipment. Minimum volume requirements may depend on local conditions. These institutions are not required to have an ongoing program of research or a surgical residency program.

Level III
A Level III trauma center does not have the full availability of specialists, but does have resources for emergency resuscitation, surgery, and intensive care of most trauma patients. A Level III center has transfer agreements with Level I or Level II trauma centers that provide back-up resources for the care of patients with exceptionally severe injuries (e.g., multiple trauma).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trauma_center

[harry chickpea]

I still don't get it. This was not something that happened at 2 AM. The 24 hour rule shouldn't apply.

surgeons
emergency physicians
anesthesiologists
nurses
an education program
preventive and outreach programs.
Key elements include 24‑hour in‑house coverage by general surgeons and prompt availability of care in varying specialties — such as orthopedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, otolaryngology and oral and maxillofacial surgery (trained to treat injuries of the facial skin, muscles, bones), and critical care, which are needed to adequately respond and care for various forms of trauma that a patient may suffer and rehabilitation services.

The purple colored parts are not relevant. The dark red parts are most certainly at A-L, especially mid-day at 1 PM.

"The driver of the Nissan and one occupant were airlifted to Huntsville Hospital, and two other occupants were transported by ambulance." - WAFF

There is more here than meets the eye. What it SEEMS like to me is a downgrading of the A-L emergency department as a cost cutting measure, necessitating faster transport to Huntsville for emergencies occurring in Limestone county.

What concerns me is "is this the acceptance of inferior medical care in Limestone county?" There is something about an accident happening almost on the doorsteps of a hospital and the patients being whisked forty miles away that just doesn't sit well.

[kokonutty]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

I still don't get it. This was not something that happened at 2 AM. The 24 hour rule shouldn't apply.

surgeons
emergency physicians
anesthesiologists
nurses
an education program
preventive and outreach programs.
Key elements include 24‑hour in‑house coverage by general surgeons and prompt availability of care in varying specialties — such as orthopedic surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, internal medicine, otolaryngology and oral and maxillofacial surgery (trained to treat injuries of the facial skin, muscles, bones), and critical care, which are needed to adequately respond and care for various forms of trauma that a patient may suffer and rehabilitation services.

The purple colored parts are not relevant. The dark red parts are most certainly at A-L, especially mid-day at 1 PM.

"The driver of the Nissan and one occupant were airlifted to Huntsville Hospital, and two other occupants were transported by ambulance." - WAFF

There is more here than meets the eye. What it SEEMS like to me is a downgrading of the A-L emergency department as a cost cutting measure, necessitating faster transport to Huntsville for emergencies occurring in Limestone county.

What concerns me is "is this the acceptance of inferior medical care in Limestone county?" There is something about an accident happening almost on the doorsteps of a hospital and the patients being whisked forty miles away that just doesn't sit well.

Neurosurgery is not relevant? It would be to me if any of my family members had a serious brain injury; who do you propose should address such issues at the local facility?. Standards used for establishing levels of care and criteria for onsite decision making regarding appropriate care have not been set arbitrarily but derived from decades of outcome related research.

[NoleFanHSV]

So is the issue here life flight or the quality of care at county hospitals?

[unlblkrubi]

Just like if your high dollar Lamborghini breaks down. You gonna take it to a local po dunk garage and let some "mechanics" stand around trying to figure out whats wrong or take it to the Lamborghini dealer to have it fixed right and on time.