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Charleston Area Medical Center will no longer be a Trauma I medical facility.
This is serious business not only for Charleston and Kanawha County residents, but
all the rural counties in our area.
"It is frightening," said Minnie Hamilton Health Care's CEO Barb Lay.
Lay said for years rural areas have experienced access problems, and now it has
happened to more urban areas like Charleston. "Now it has become everyone's
problem."
"What it will mean in timelines and access to people with critical trauma in places
like Calhoun remains to be seen," she said. It is not a good situation.
CAMC is where nearly all critical need trauma cases have been sent from Calhoun,
Roane and several surrounding counties, either by HealthNet chopper or EMS
transport.
The change will take place at 8 a.m. Tuesday, after which trauma cases with more
than one serious injury must be sent elsewhere.
CAMC had to send three trauma cases to other hospitals last week because of a lack
of specialists. The trauma physicians have been working 24/7 trying to provide the
service, but the hospital says they are unable to recruit or retain physicians.
The hospital has offered some surgeons daily bonuses of $2000 a day to offset their
malpractice costs, but the retention is still not working.
Referrals for critical trauma cases will be made to WVU Hospital and hospitals in
Lexington KY and Charlottesville VA. Most every case will have to travel a greater
distance.
Charleston residents expressed concerns regarding the lack of such services
contributing to a further decline in population, business and industry in the area.
CAMC has provided Trauma I care since 1990.
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