Western Plains Hospital and Lifeteam

[faith]

The article in Saturday’s paper (Aug 15.) about the new life watch team, Midwest Lifeteam, that the hospital is and has been using for a few months upset me. Why are there two air ambulances being used at the hospital? Dodge City already has an air ambulance unit based within Ford County. Lifeteam does not hold its base in Ford County, but rather it is run out of Great Bend, Emporia, Liberal, and Hutchison. They only have a chopper pad located in Dodge City. Eagle Med is decidedly the closer unit, so why does it lie dormant? I understand that Midwest Lifeteam is supposed to help rural areas get to major hospitals faster. However, In the time it takes for the Lifeteam to: receive the call, get ready, fuel the helicopter, inspect it for flight, fly from the air base to the patient’s hospital\location, and finally to the hospital that they are suppose to be at, the ambulance could be half way, or possibly, to the hospital with the patient. Eagle Med could be there waiting on them to take the patient to the awaiting hospital.

This article also left me with a few questions:
Does the patient or the patient’s family get to decide which air ambulance they use? Are they told the price differences between the two services? I also read that the service covers part of Oklahoma and Colorado, would the plane not have to refuel along the way? If so, how long would that take? I would like to know if precious minutes are wasted that could be spent more appropriately.

I would like to bring up the point that Eagle Med has a higher certification than Lifeteam, in that Eagle Med has paramedics and nurses to assist the patient and Lifeteam does not. They only use EMTs and nurses, which means they are limited in what services they can provide for the patient.

In the article it stated that ALL EMS personnel are excited and want the Lifeteam. I know several of the EMS personnel in Dodge City and in surrounding towns who are NOT happy about the service and do not want Lifeteam. These men and women have been happy with Eagle Med, and do not see the point in changing a system that works very well. It seems to me that the part ownership of two ER doctors of Lifeteam has caused this unfavorable change. If this is the case, it is not a sufficient reason to change air ambulance units. This change should only be made if it is TRULY good for the community as a whole. Eagle Med is located in Dodge City, has the support of the local EMS, and does a great job. What need is there of a second service that seems more of a risk than an advantage.

[lurker]

I gave it a hard and very definate Maybe........

Medicine isn't what it used to be... and money is very motivating.

I was recently in Louisiana and the Coast Guard provides the air ambulance service off shore. Those boys are pros. They gots some nice toys too.

Edit: nice topic and WELCOME to the board.

[Made in the USA]

Why does this dump----er----corporate hospital do anything?? They got one motto: Screw the patient and his insurance company, and give the crappiest service available to man! Oh and while they are at it, screw the employees too! I don't see how they stay open with some of the happenings and violations occurring there. The only thing they are good for is providing free and enduring care for our local illegal immigrant population. Bring the nuns back and open another Catholic Hospital!!

[Kodiak]

Why when I try to vote on this poll I get this'

In order to accept POST request originating from this domain, the admin must add this domain to the whitelist.

[lurker]

Originally Posted by Kodiak

Why when I try to vote on this poll I get this'

In order to accept POST request originating from this domain, the admin must add this domain to the whitelist.

That's cuz you look like a brown bear.... take a bath.

[Kodiak]

Had to take bath, rider mower quit and the wife wouldn't finish the yard with the damn pushmower.

[tex]

I find this very intresting, especially the poll. I voted no in the poll and for what I feel some very good reasons.

#1 I dont think that a second service is not a bad thing compition is good however if that service is part owned by the ER doc's who make the call, thats wrong, the Gov. or who ever needs to be looking into a conflict of intrest here. Who do you think makes the call for which service is to transport you?

#2 Why fly a choper for almost 2x the cost and 1/2 the speed? A service which cant fly if its too hot or a little windy. I dont know about you but if I must fly to Wichita or where ever I want the best and fastest service to do so not a service chosen to profit the doctors.

There are many more reasons which I may express later but Ive taken up too much of your time now.

This is just my openion, I could be wrong, however Ive spoken to many folks in the community who feel the same as I do. Bad ides Western Plains Bad idea.

Thanks for your time

[BroncoFan]

Interesting tidbit of information:

EagleMed was asked to provide a helicopter (mostly for cardiac emergencies).

EagleMed refused.

Hospital looked elsewhere.

Business decisions on both sides. EagleMed must not have thought it was possible to get additional air ambulance services in small town.

Hospital decides to try to cease exclusive operations with EagleMed.

Nonetheless, people who are in need of air ambulance should have a choice, as there is now more than one option. This decision should never be left to the doctor, hospital, nurse, etc. People need to know their rights and the rights of their family members. Take the oportunity to ask these types of questions when involved in any healthcare decisions! Time is of the essence! Educate yourself now.

[Detector]

Welcome to the board faith

While I don't know all the particulars involved I can see where a helicopter could be an advantage.

My brother was in a very bad wreck some years ago and they say without the helicopter he probably would not have lived. This was in Texas, and like Kansas has some areas of wide open space a long distance from the nearest emergency room. The ground ambulance was there and kept him stable until the helicopter arrived.

Wouldn't EagleMed require the same procedures/time to be called for an emergency? The helicopter would be able to land at the site to pick the patient up and deliver them directly to the ER. EagleMed would need to land at the closest airstrip to meet the ground unit then fly to the airport in dodge again to meet a ground unit to take the patient to the hospital.

We've all heard of "the golden hour" it just seems a helicopter would make better time than an airplane in more cases. Had EagleMed been able to offer a helicopter they would probably have used them.

I think the choice was all about critical time. With the new cardiac unit, getting a patient suffering a heart attack in rural areas of southwest Kansas to the ER as soon as possible should equal saved lives.

MitUSA. I understand the frustration people have at any medical service. I've set in the ER for hours myself will it seems I'm being ignored, but I do also understand how and why things happen the way they do and I can assure you in most cases it's not as it seems.

I've worked my fair of different places from restaurants to manufacturing and one thing I can say WITHOUT A DOUBT is that the hospital works harder than other place I've been to do the best job they can do. The problem I see is that no one wants to go to the hospital. You feel as if you're being forced to do business you have no control over. Because of this you also feel you're gonna get screwed because this place don't need to give a carp.

Well I can tell you this is a far from the truth as you could possibly be.

Customer satisfaction IS the number one priority period. Next time you visit the hospital take a look at those boards on the walls. They are not there to cover holes in the wall or look pretty. Those are the standards the hospital operates by and ALL employees are expected to live by while at work. Those boards are there to remind employees why they are there and what they WILL DO while there.

There is a department whose sole purpose is quality control. If a visitor complains about another visitor farting QM's job is to find the best possible way to keep it from ever happening again. Even the smallest complaint hs the hospital swarming with government inspectors probing every crevice for possible violations.

Heres an example.

Some unsupervised kid spills his grape juice and right behind him another visitor, in a real pissy mode for having to be there, sees the stain and complains about the hospital being filthy. A day later the hospital is swarming with state inspectors and QM files an occurrence report where this complaint is evaluated to see if anything could have been done to prevent it, if proper procedure are in place to take care of it and if any visitor was at risk because of it.

Another thing I hear a lot is people referring to the hospital in a generic term. I've heard people call the medical center the hospital and the surgi center the hospital. Just the other day some one was telling me about the bad experience they had at the "hospital." it took a bit before I found out they were talking about the surgi center.

[Zeb]

<<<<I don't see how they stay open with some of the happenings and violations occurring there. >>>>


Would you care to elaborate on these Happenings and Violations? I will investigate your complaint. Or are you just talking out your other oriface? I will be patiently awaiting your response USA.