EDITORIAL: State should help fund trauma centers

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| Tuesday, November 18, 2008 | (13 comment(s))

Ensuring adequate access to health care is the government's responsibility. That's why it was such an important factor in the presidential election.

It's also why the state government should ensure that Northwest Indiana has a trauma center.

State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, has said he'll seek up to $300 million for the construction of a 200-bed hospital in Gary to be designated a trauma center. He hasn't said yet where that money would come from.

But operating the trauma centers is costly, too.

Brown wants to add an $18 court fee to most moving violations so drivers with poor habits would fund the trauma center. These drivers are, after all, contributing to the need for trauma care.

Some of the offenses that would be covered by these additional fines include drunken driving, reckless driving, speeding and disregarding a stoplight or stop sign.

Also supporting the state's trauma centers would be a $1 surcharge on license plate renewals.

A trauma center is not a run-of-the-mill emergency room. Certification as a trauma center requires having surgeons and specialists on call at all hours to treat patients critically injured in shootings, stabbings, traffic accidents and falls.

Northwest Indiana doesn't have a trauma center, and the one in nearby Olympia Fields, Ill., closed earlier this year.

With the level of violence, number of industrial plants and volume of traffic crossing Northwest Indiana, not to mention the high population, it is hard to argue against the region having its own trauma center. There are seven such centers elsewhere in Indiana but not here.

The problem is figuring out how to pay for it.

Brown's way to raise money to support the trauma centers in Indiana -- and his idea that the state should support the creation of a trauma center in Gary -- are worth consideration by the Indiana General Assembly.

Look it up online
Read state Rep. Charlie Brown's proposal at http://in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/prelim/HFCO02.pdf

Your opinion, please
Should Indiana state government help fund trauma centers? Should the state help pay for a new trauma center in Gary?
Share your thoughts at http://nwi.com/opinion

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To Mr. Ridgely wrote on Nov 18, 2008 9:13 PM:

" I just reread that Indiana Constitution as well, and not only does it not say anything about health care, it doesn't give the state the power to be involved in it. They are alread operating illegally with state medicaid etc. This is like saying just because John Dillinger did it, it is okay for the street gangs to do it. I couldn't believe the Times, or maybe I should have figured out how left wing they are a long time ago. "

to Er doc wrote on Nov 18, 2008 8:45 PM:

" St. Anthony, St. Margaret, St. Mary, Community, Methodist all make enormous amounts of PROFIT. I have relatives that work for 4 of the 5 I mentioned and they make a mint. Let them pay for their own additions. Leave my wallet a lone. "

Tom Waldron wrote on Nov 18, 2008 3:47 PM:

" Why would anyone,anywhere,pay for anything in Gary,IN. When was the last project that had any tax dollars, state funds or federal grants that didn't wind up in the bottom of some political hacks pocket? The over-runs(nice word for stealing)are outrageous. "

TAX PAYER wrote on Nov 18, 2008 3:32 PM:

" Locating the hospital in Gary along near IUN on Broadway three blocks south of I-94 is the best and most central location in Northwest Indiana when you figure how long it takes to transport potential victims along roads. Its the center of population if you include Porter County. Its an even better location if people from the IL-394 corridor that used to be served in Olympia Fields are routed to Gary as well since its closer to them in travel time than the other trauma centers currently located in Chicago. "

Dr. D. wrote on Nov 18, 2008 2:28 PM:

" Let's add The Times to that list of industries who should add money to the fund.

Time for the Times to put their money where their mouth is!!! "

GRBarkley wrote on Nov 18, 2008 1:13 PM:

" Two new hospitals are being built in Porter. Both with proximity to the tollroad and the I-94 interchanges. Why can't these hospitals be upgraded to a level one trauma center. Oh, right, this would save money and it is not located in Gary. Forgot, unless Gary can keep its snout in the taxpayer money, nothing happens. "

ER doc wrote on Nov 18, 2008 10:57 AM:

" There is absolutely no doubt that NWI needs a trauma center of its own. Any traumas in the area need to be transferred to Illinois, increasing time to definitive, life-saving treatment. In addition, with the closing of Olympia Fields' trauma unit, Illinois hospitals are even more overloaded now than they were before. Often, they are on bypass for lack of available beds, and transfer to an appropriate facility for care becomes even more problematic.
The NWI trauma center should be located cetrally within the region (not in Gary) and some of it SHOULD be funded in part by reckless and drunk drivers, as well as weapons and drug offenders. Contrary to the comments I have read here, often times hospitals LOSE money on trauma patients, because frequently they are uninsured or under-insured.
Before you go on about how you don't want to pay for someone else's injuries, think about where you'd want to be if you or someone you love were critically injured in a car accident. I can tell you with certainty, I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE TREATED IN NORTHWEST INDIANA's PRESENT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM!!!
We need huge improvements, and fast. "

Procrastinator wrote on Nov 18, 2008 10:12 AM:

" It's best to put health care issues on the back burner until we see how universal health care is going to play out. We may be arguing over a moot point if the feds build more hospitals as part of the new New Deal. Or they may change the way these things are funded entirely. Just wait. "

Ridiculous wrote on Nov 18, 2008 9:09 AM:

" Hospitals make a fortune, they can pay for it themselves. The "non profits" own fitness centers (Omni 41, etc) they can more than afford to build their own trauma center UNLESS they want to pay the tax payers back once they open up the trauma center or let us share in the profits forever! "

Over Taxed wrote on Nov 18, 2008 9:00 AM:

" Let's keep the state out of the cities business as they have screwed it up enough.
I don't see lines of people waiting to get into hospitals, so why do we need another at this time when there isn't enough money to keep police and fire personal on the streets.?
So once again I believe your editorial staff is on the wrong side of the issue.
Think back to who you backed for President. "

Joe Average wrote on Nov 18, 2008 7:57 AM:

" Well we're off to a bad start here.
First, no one should have to pay for a private enterprise with public money.
Second, Gary wants this because they finally ran out of all the money they took under the table for the $20MM ball park they paid $50MM for.
Third, if Gary says $300MM, then it will be $580MM.
Third, if we agree with CB and the Times, and need a trauma center due to transport time issues, then the thing shoudl be built in a central location and not aat the far north edge of the region.
Fourth, the scheme of paying for this with traffic additional ticket money and just another convoluted way of getting the rest of the county to pay for Gary political machine messes.
Fifth, if we need to pay for it, go to the attorney general and ask for all the tabacco settlement money they blew on nothing public health related. "

William Ridgely wrote on Nov 18, 2008 7:06 AM:

" Here we go again. The times says that "health care is the government's responsibility." Well if they say that enough people will start to believe it. I just reread the Indiana Constitution and I didn't find anything about health care in it.
Charlie Brown wants to raise taxes on poor people to pay for his new health care centers.
I think we should have a trauma center, because after reading the newpaper I think I need one.
Charlie Brown wants $300 million for this center. He could save $100 million by putting it the Sherdian "HOTEL". "

Doctor D wrote on Nov 18, 2008 5:00 AM:

" I also believe the casino's, the industries like BP and the steel mills should add money to the fund. As with many attractions they have brought many people to NWI who will require the use of ER's in the area. We have built up our are over to last 5 years to accommodate people leaving Chicago but we have not allowed for this influx of people who require health care. Get 'er done. "

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