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SIERRA VISTA — The area’s hospitals could be making upgrades in their emergency departments.
Based on an executive order issued by Gov. Janet Napolitano on Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services will be working with the state’s rural hospitals to help implement new services and upgrades aimed at transforming emergency rooms into certified trauma centers.
The three metropolitan areas of Flagstaff, Tucson and Phoenix have Level 1 trauma centers, which are facilities equipped and staffed to handle the most severe injuries.
While it’s unlikely the state’s rural hospitals could afford the equipment and staffing needed to reach Level 1 status, state health officials say there are lower level certifications that could be achieved.
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Will Humble, deputy director of public health service for the Arizona Department of Health Services, believes most rural hospitals could reach Level 4 status, the lowest designation for a trauma certification.
“We have already been approached by the state regarding our trauma designation,” said Margaret Hepburn, chief executive officer of Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. “The next step is an evaluation by our board of trustees and physicians.”
While the hospital is not a certified trauma center, Hepburn said, “We are currently functioning as a Level 3 trauma receiving facility.”
The Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee also has begun looking at what would need to be done to meet the order.
“We are exploring the regulations about becoming a Level 4 trauma center,” said Jim Dickson, the hospital’s chief executive officer. “There are quite a bit of documentation and policies, as well as system changes that would have to be in place. We want to comply with the governor, so we are going to evaluate the possibility of joining the statewide trauma system.”
While paramedic Mike Grill, who is assistant director of Allied Health and the emergency medical services program coordinator for Cochise College, supports the governor’s order, he says implementing it could be a huge challenge for rural hospitals.
“I think it would be very beneficial to standardize trauma care throughout the county,” Grill said. “The challenge for these hospitals, though, is they would be required to have certain staffing levels and specific equipment to achieve trauma center status. One of the greatest challenges for the medical facility would be attracting, recruiting and retaining the necessary staff to achieve a trauma designation. As an educator and paramedic, I support the order. It would be a great thing for the trauma patient. At the same time, I fully understand that staffing could be a tough challenge.”
Paul Cimino, an emergency medical technician who is fire marshal and public information officer for the Sierra Vista Fire Department, applauded the executive order. “I would agree with any upgrade in health care, especially in rural areas,” he said. “With Sierra Vista being the largest town in the county, and the influx of people we have coming into this area, improving the level of trauma care would be a huge benefit to Sierra Vista, as well as the smaller towns throughout the county. Even though I support this, I know it could be a major financial burden for these tiny rural hospitals. Something like this takes staffing, equipment and commitment, which would be difficult for some of these rural medical facilities.”
Cimino added that as Sierra Vista grows, the community should be reaching for a trauma center. “Trauma centers everywhere are overwhelmed, so more of them would not only benefit our community, but would benefit health care overall.”
Ron York, a paramedic firefighter and Sierra Vista Fire Department deputy fire chief, also praised the governor’s order.
“A trauma center would be a phenomenal thing for this community. Right now, we fly a lot of people to Tucson,” he said. “We’re at least getting them to a trauma center, which is the best care they can have. Of course, if we had a trauma center here, it would save about 45 minutes in transport time, which would really benefit the patient.”
Without a trauma facility, York said, emergency responders are providing supportive and stabilization care until the patient is able to get the definitive care provided at such facilities as University Medical Center, the Level 1 trauma center in Tucson. “The money and staffing would be extremely difficult for hospitals in this area,” he added. “At one time, Tucson had two trauma centers, but it was too expensive for them to support two. So Tucson Medical Center closed its trauma unit, which left University Medical Center.”
Napolitano’s order
Gov. Janet Napolitano recently issued Executive Order 2008-26, aimed at developing an inclusive statewide trauma system. It’s an effort to increase the number of trauma centers in Arizona, including rural areas. Residents in rural Arizona do not have ready access to trauma centers, Napolitano’s order states. By increasing the number of designated trauma centers, Arizona will improve its ability to respond to and recover from a mass-injury event. In addition, more trauma centers could dramatically improve patient care by reducing the time the person is transported.
Napolitano’s order is as follows:
The Arizona Department of Health Services shall:
• Increase the number of Arizona health care institutions that participate in the statewide trauma system, particularly those located in rural Arizona.
• Establish a trauma medical director with expertise in trauma care to formulate standards, guidelines, and rules to further enhance Arizona’s trauma system and care.
• Grow the number of health care institutions that report traumatic injury data to the Arizona State Trauma Registry; an effort that enhances information sources necessary for continued evaluation of, and improvements to, the statewide trauma system.
• Provide a report to the governor on the activities and outcomes of developing an Inclusive Statewide Trauma System by Dec. 31, 2008, and annually thereafter.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
To Svres wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:21 AM: