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Charleston Area Medical Center will likely maintain their Level I
trauma center status when it's inspected in January, hospital and state
officials said Monday.
Eight of CAMC's 16 active orthopedic surgeons are more than
60 years old. The orthopedic trauma call schedule could be in
jeopardy if any of them suffers an injury or health problem, according to CEO Glenn
Crotty.
Dr. Frank Lucente, chief-of-staff and medical director of trauma
services, said CAMC's permanent designation as a level I center
may be in jeopardy if substantial reforms aren't passed during the
legislative session.
Doctors on the brink of leaving the state are waiting to see
what actions their lawmakers take.
Doctors hope legislators will pass reforms that they say will slow
the growth of their malpractice insurance premiums, including
damage caps on noneconomic damages like pain and suffering,
caps on attorney fees, and others.
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When CAMC was demoted to a level III center, regional counties had to send trauma
patients to
Huntington, Morgantown or out-of-state.
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