Comments on: Sussex County Hospitals Overtaxed http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/ The WGMD 92.7 FM Delmarva Blog Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:50:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: meatball http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17363 meatball Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:31:03 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17363 Well, then we would give up lifenet out of Georgetown airport. Again, I think it boils down to cost effective care. Does it make good business sense to keepmore than two crews on duty on days when there are no transports just to manage the few days a year when there might be three in an overlapping time period Well, then we would give up lifenet out of Georgetown airport. Again, I think it boils down to cost effective care. Does it make good business sense to keepmore than two crews on duty on days when there are no transports just to manage the few days a year when there might be three in an overlapping time period

]]> By: Maria Evans http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17324 Maria Evans Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:11:21 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17324 How about centralizing the team in Dover instead of the other end of the state? How about centralizing the team in Dover instead of the other end of the state?

]]> By: meatball http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17316 meatball Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:34:22 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17316 Maria says: "It's not a good situation." No doubt, suboptimal at best for all involved. So then, wouldn't it make more sense and be more cost effective to field a second transport team? Building, equipping, staffing, training, and maintaining a specialized unit may be indicated if the patient population exists, however if not, then patient care suffers and resources are squandered. Again, community hospitals need not be all things to all people. I wonder what the the concentration of level I NICU beds is per capita in say eastern PA? Maria says:
“It’s not a good situation.”

No doubt, suboptimal at best for all involved.

So then, wouldn’t it make more sense and be more cost effective to field a second transport team? Building, equipping, staffing, training, and maintaining a specialized unit may be indicated if the patient population exists, however if not, then patient care suffers and resources are squandered.

Again, community hospitals need not be all things to all people. I wonder what the the concentration of level I NICU beds is per capita in say eastern PA?

]]> By: Maria Evans http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17301 Maria Evans Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:04:01 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17301 Sometimes, meatball, the ONE transport team that can move newborns is in NJ or PA picking up an infant. I've talked to women who have waited well over 4 hours at Beebe for the transport team to show up from Christiana for their newborns because they're on other calls. During that time doctors and nurses are hand bagging the newborn. It's not a good situation. Sometimes, meatball, the ONE transport team that can move newborns is in NJ or PA picking up an infant. I’ve talked to women who have waited well over 4 hours at Beebe for the transport team to show up from Christiana for their newborns because they’re on other calls. During that time doctors and nurses are hand bagging the newborn. It’s not a good situation.

]]> By: meatball http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17264 meatball Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:45:20 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17264 I believe Beebe is a level III trauma center as is Bayhealth Milford. I've never known an ambulance driver to obey the speed limit. I'm not sure what his argument is there. Christiana's main campus is 35 minutes away by ambulance from Lewes and Seaford, less from Milford. I would still like to see the data, sounds like the good doctor may have an axe to grind or perhaps a ladder to climb. I believe Beebe is a level III trauma center as is Bayhealth Milford.
I’ve never known an ambulance driver to obey the speed limit. I’m not sure what his argument is there. Christiana’s main campus is 35 minutes away by ambulance from Lewes and Seaford, less from Milford. I would still like to see the data, sounds like the good doctor may have an axe to grind or perhaps a ladder to climb.

]]> By: Maria Evans http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17263 Maria Evans Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:23:49 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17263 This is from Lewes pediatrician Jay Ludwicki: <blockquote> The distribution of hospital care in Sussex County is triangulated. We have three small, soon becoming obsolete hospitals cloistered in small towns namely Lewes, Seaford, and Milford serving Sussex County. To get to each one takes a trip down small 25 mile an hour city streets. Not one has quick access to a major 4 lane highway. Development around major intersections is putting up more access barriers. Also, the hospitals act competitively, but the positioning does not benefit optimal healthcare for Sussex County residents. Together, there's enough Trauma in Sussex County to justify a Level III status. Together, there's enough births to justify an advanced neonatal unit and a higher level of Pediatric E.R. care. Separately, the argument will always be the numbers at each hospital don't justify a higher level of care. So all advanced care must go to Wilmington.</blockquote> This is from Lewes pediatrician Jay Ludwicki:

The distribution of hospital care in Sussex County is triangulated. We have three small, soon becoming obsolete hospitals cloistered in small towns namely Lewes, Seaford, and Milford serving Sussex County. To get to each one takes a trip down small 25 mile an hour city streets. Not one has quick access to a major 4 lane highway. Development around major intersections is putting up more access barriers. Also, the hospitals act competitively, but the positioning does not benefit optimal healthcare for Sussex County residents. Together, there’s enough Trauma in Sussex County to justify a Level III status. Together, there’s enough births to justify an advanced neonatal unit and a higher level of Pediatric E.R. care. Separately, the argument will always be the numbers at each hospital don’t justify a higher level of care. So all advanced care must go to Wilmington.

]]> By: meatball http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17262 meatball Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:07:31 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17262 Maria Evans Says: February 11th, 2008 at 5:50 pm There is enough “business” if you put the 3 Sussex County hospitals together. Recall that one of the three Sussex hospitals is owned by the Kent hospital. They already offer level two trauma and NICU services. Also, PRMC in Salisbury offers level I trauma and NICU services. A community hospital need not be all things for all people. Also, I would like to see the data for all this business. Email me, please. Maria Evans Says:

February 11th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
There is enough “business” if you put the 3 Sussex County hospitals together.

Recall that one of the three Sussex hospitals is owned by the Kent hospital. They already offer level two trauma and NICU services. Also, PRMC in Salisbury offers level I trauma and NICU services. A community hospital need not be all things for all people.

Also, I would like to see the data for all this business. Email me, please.

]]> By: meatball http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17261 meatball Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:43:32 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17261 Apply free market, why are there no neuro surgeons then? Also, address staffing. Where are the qualified staff coming from and how will they buy housing. What type of jobs are available for their spouses? Better to get superior specialized care 100 miles from home than mediocre care around the corner. I remember when the local hospitals kept alot more trauma than they do now. Better outcomes. Careful what you wish for. Apply free market, why are there no neuro surgeons then? Also, address staffing. Where are the qualified staff coming from and how will they buy housing. What type of jobs are available for their spouses?

Better to get superior specialized care 100 miles from home than mediocre care around the corner. I remember when the local hospitals kept alot more trauma than they do now. Better outcomes. Careful what you wish for.

]]> By: Maria Evans http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17251 Maria Evans Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:50:54 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17251 There is enough "business" if you put the 3 Sussex County hospitals together. There is enough “business” if you put the 3 Sussex County hospitals together.

]]> By: meatball http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17242 meatball Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:30:32 +0000 http://www.wgmd.com/blog/2008/02/01/sussex-county-hospitals-overtaxed/#comment-17242 Oh, and part of the criteria for a Level I trauma center is to have 24/7 neuro surgeon coverage. There just ain't enough bussiness around here to attract a group of neuro surgeons. Add to that the dilution of competent care argument and you can see why Beebe is a level 3. Same goes for a NICU (nenatal ICU). There just isn't enough of that kind of bussiness around here to warrant it. Imagine employing a dozen highly specialized nurses who take care of 2 premies a month. Just don't make sense. Oh, and part of the criteria for a Level I trauma center is to have 24/7 neuro surgeon coverage. There just ain’t enough bussiness around here to attract a group of neuro surgeons. Add to that the dilution of competent care argument and you can see why Beebe is a level 3.

Same goes for a NICU (nenatal ICU). There just isn’t enough of that kind of bussiness around here to warrant it. Imagine employing a dozen highly specialized nurses who take care of 2 premies a month. Just don’t make sense.

]]>