WHERE NOW FOR TRAUMA CARE? - Referrals May Be More Complicated

(08/28/2002)

West Virginia University Hospital says they are already overloaded six days a week providing trauma care, with Charleston Area Medical Center losing their trauma status - the problems of where to send critical cases has become real. The treatment of trauma cases took a major turn for thr worse in West Virginia yesterday. Bone, brain and spinal injuries must go elsewhere. Huntington, altough not a trauma center, does have specialists on call at times to take care of some of the cases, but it appears the referrals will now be made out of state. The "golden hour," the first hour after the trauma happens, may send the life-saving delivery of trauma care in a tailspin, particularly in rural West Virginia. Some trauma centers are located in Pittsburgh, Columbus and Lexington. CAMC officials said it could take six months to two years to return the center to Trauma I care.

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