Re: UC Davis Med Center To Ground One 'Life Flight' Helicopter

["J.D. Phipps" <jdprn@hotmail.com>]

Thank you Mike!  Very well said.

JD Phipps - another non UC Davis flight nurse.






>From: "Mike Shuken" <mikeshuken@value.net>
>Reply-To: flightmed@flightweb.com
>To: <flightmed@flightweb.com>
>Subject: Re: UC Davis Med Center To Ground One 'Life Flight' Helicopter
>Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 14:11:36 -0800
>
>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.
>
>Bay Area Paramedic Journal Club - check it out!
>http://members.aol.com/bapjc/
>
>Improving medical care for the people of developing countries:
>www.medicalrelieffoundation.org
>
>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
>
>
>   ____________________________________________
>   Nick Nudell, NREMT-P, CCEMT-P
>   California
>   nudell@prehospital-perspective.com
>
>
>
>   "Perception is reality" - Wise Old Paramedic
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


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