Hospital officials vote against plan

"Trauma funds aren't going into the San Gabriel Valley, but paying for the trauma patients that get treated in the basin," said Carol Meyer, director of emergency medical services for the county. "Over 96 percent of patients are getting trauma care. We're doing the best we c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inKnight Ridder Tribune Business News p. 1
Main Author Dai, Ivy
Format Newsletter
LanguageEnglish
Published Washington Tribune Content Agency LLC 12.09.2005
Subjects
Emergency medical care
Fires
Helicopters
Hospitals
Trauma centers
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Summary:"Trauma funds aren't going into the San Gabriel Valley, but paying for the trauma patients that get treated in the basin," said Carol Meyer, director of emergency medical services for the county. "Over 96 percent of patients are getting trauma care. We're doing the best we can do." The county gained $170 million for the trauma system through Measure B, a property-improvement tax passed in 2002. About 80 percent of those funds go toward four county hospitals for basic emergency room care. County officials said an optimum system would include three more trauma centers in Baldwin Park/West Covina and Antelope Valley. "Acceptable is a weak word, but trauma is being acceptably managed in the San Gabriel Valley," [Chris Aldworth] said. "We take care of anyone who walks in the door ... We don't want to risk our basic services by taking on a trauma center."