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By Bob Weaver
Providing health care in rural West Virginia has always been a challenge, but
the current malpractice crisis may take the cake. One of the last
malpractice insurers is pulling out of the state, leaving most physicians
without coverage and hospitals in a quandary.
The West Virginia Legislature is in a special "drop dead" session this week
to consider solutions. During the earlier session, some legislators spent
most of their time blaming Governor Bob Wise. Wise told the legislature it
was now a legislative problem, and it is time to legislate a solution.
The crisis is a stand-off between power-players, insurers, physicians and
lawyers. The West Virginia Medical Board reported last week that juries
sided with physicians in two-thirds of all cases in West Virginia during the
past seven years.
Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center in Grantsville says their long-term care
unit and hospital beds will have to be closed if a solution is not found by
January 10, 2002. Charleston Area Medical Center has advised the public
their emergency room will close and the hospital will no longer be able to
provide surgery unless a last minute solution is formulated.
While Minnie Hamilton will be able to continue providing primary physician
care, CEO Barb Lay has grave concerns where MHHCC can send specialty
cases for treatment, like heart attacks or orthopedic problems.
Meanwhile, a federal report by Quality Resource Systems says many West
Virginia counties are under served with health care. They cite 14 counties
with insufficient doctors. The report also listed 34 counties as being under
served. Calhoun County, with Minnie Hamilton, remains a positive example of
delivering care under difficult circumstances.
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