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A Legal Challenge in Florida Could Cause the State's Newest Trauma Centers to Be Closed Down
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(84 seconds)
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(OPEN):
ON CHRISTMAS-EVE, FOUR OF FLORIDA'S HOSPITALS FILED A LEGAL-CHALLENGE
THAT COULD CAUSE THE STATE'S NEWEST TRAUMA-CENTERS TO BE CLOSED DOWN.
HOWEVER, JIM MARTIN--THE CHAIRMAN OF THE "60-PLUS
ASSOCIATION"--SAYS THAT THE NEW FACILITIES ARE VITAL TO
FLORIDA'S SENIORS...
(MARTIN):
"THE
NUMBER-ONE CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG SENIORS IS A TRAUMA-INJURY. AND,
STUDIES SHOW THAT TRAUMA-VICTIMS ARE 25-PERCENT MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE
AN INJURY--IF THEY'RE TREATED AT A TRAUMA-CENTER. FLORIDA'S
'DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH' IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK, WE BELIEVE, WITH ITS
EFFORTS TO SOLIDIFY A TRAUMA-CENTER ALLOCATION-RULE THAT WOULD ENSURE
ACCESS TO QUALITY TRAUMA-CARE FOR ALL FLORIDIANS. BUT,
UNFORTUNATELY, 'TAMPA GENERAL', 'SHANDS', AND OTHER
HOSPITALS ARE RECKLESSLY, WE BELIEVE, PUTTING THEIR FINANCIAL
BOTTOM-LINES AHEAD OF PATIENTS' LIVES: FOUR HOSPITALS, ON THE EVE
OF THE CHRISTMAS-HOLIDAY, USED A LEGAL-PLOY TO REQUEST THAT THE
DEPARTMENT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN FLORIDA'S NEWEST TRAUMA-CENTERS.
THIS LEGAL-MANEUVER--WHICH AFFECTS SOME OF THE STATE'S MOST-UNDERSERVED
AREAS--IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ANTI-COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOR THAT THREATENS TO
DECREASE ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING CARE FOR ALL SENIORS--AND, UNFORTUNATELY,
TO DRIVE UP HEALTHCARE-COSTS."
(CLOSE):
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
"SAVE-OUR-TRAUMA-CENTERS"-DOT-ORG.
