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Ruby,
I don't work for UC Davis, but I feel compelled to
respond to your post. I believe your insinuation that the UC Davis Life
Flight program is "falling apart" is inaccurate. UC Davis currently
has two aircraft in service and it is anticipated that in the near
future they will inactivate one of them. California is facing an
unprecedented budget shortfall ($26 billion dollars - yes, billion with a "b")
that we citizens were just informed about following the gubernatorial
election last November. Aside from the reimbursement issues that are
affecting all medical transport providers, UC Davis is directly affected by
the California budget deficit. Obviously, it is hoped that
sometime in the near future the second helicopter will be activated
again.
I won't presumptuously speak for others (as you
have done so) but I think we all know people who have left flight programs for a
variety of reasons. A chief flight nurse that can predict a massive budget
shortfall two years in advance? Pretty amazing... (You identify the
chief flight nurse as being a "she" when the last chief flight nurse to leave
was a "he". Perhaps you are thinking of another Life Flight program?
Facts should be checked before posting to this list...)
UC Davis Life Flight has been providing care to the
Sacramento Valley Region for nineteen years. The care they provide is
second to none. The two other air transport competitors in the area also
have a long history of providing quality service to the region - I would never
dream of calling them "weeds".
It is my opinion that nationwide we are going to
see budget issues worsen before they get better. It appears to me that UC
Davis is one of the first providers to see air medical services cut - or at
least the first service to have articles regarding cuts posted to
flightweb. Losing a large number of staffers to lay-offs is traumatic
enough, reading a flippant post such as yours on a national forum is not
helpful. If I have interpreted what you posted incorrectly please
excuse me; the next time you post on such a sensitive subject place thought
before brevity.
Mike
Mike Shuken
Paramedic
AMR
Oakland,
Calif.
I do not work for UC Davis. My post reflects
my own thoughts and not those of any other individual or
organization.
Find out how you can help!
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 5:56
AM
Subject: RE: UC Davis Med Center To
Ground One 'Life Flight' Helicopter
Thanks Rande. I know the person that used to be the
Chief Flight Nurse there. She
left a couple years ago. Maybe
she saw it coming. Interesting
how some of the old mainstays are falling apart and others are springing up
like weeds. Ruby
-----Original
Message-----
From: flightmed-admin@flightweb.com
[mailto:flightmed-admin@flightweb.com] On
Behalf Of Nick Nudell
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 7:01
PM
To:
Paramedicine@yahoogroups.com; flightmed@flightweb.com
Subject: UC Davis Med Center To Ground
One 'Life Flight' Helicopter
UC Davis Med Center To Ground One
'Life Flight' Helicopter
Hospital
Cites Budget Restraints
POSTED: 9:53 a.m. PST March 11,
2003
SACRAMENTO,
Calif. -- When an accident happens, victims
are sometimes taken by a medical helicopter called Life Flight, but soon,
those air ambulances may be flying a lot less often.
Citing big budget restraints, the
UC Davis Medical Center in Davis has announced that they will halt service of
one of their Life Flight helicopters. That move would leave just one chopper
in service.
Nurses plan to protest the
decision Tuesday afternoon. They say taking away the helicopter would pose a
big threat to the public.
Copyright
2003 by TheKCRAChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
"Perception is reality" - Wise
Old Paramedic
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