SCOTT & WHITE DROPS ER RATING TO LEVEL-FOUR

  

Recently Scott & White-Brenham’s emergency room underwent a downgrade from a level-3 to a level-4 facility.

As a part of this move, two surgeons are no longer on 24-hour call at Scott & White for such things as massive trauma cases in the emergency room.

Scott & White-Brenham administrator Michael Pittman said he could not address specific patients or doctors due to confidentiality concerns, but he did talk about the recent decision to go to a level-4 center.

Pittman says one of the factors is the number of available personnel in a 24-hour period.  He also said the decision was not strictly a financial one, “you have to have 24/7 orthopedic coverage.  At this time we only have one orthopedic surgeon that is on call.  Therefore, we cannot meet the criteria for level-three.

“It’s the same with general surgery.  We cannot provide the 24/7 on-call time that would meet that.”

Pittman went on to say that it’s not just trauma but other aspects of care, “so, this wasn’t financial.  We said ‘this is what we can do very well, so that’s what we’re going to be, a level-four’”.

Pittman says that in most severe cases only a level-one or a level-two facility is equipped to handle that case.

He says there’s no difference between a level-three and a level-four center in the case of massive trauma, such as a gunshot wound or critical accident injuries, “a gunshot wound takes a lot of resources…a certain amount of blood bank, staff and other things.”

“We would basically stabilize the patient and send them to the appropriate level of care.  A four can do it as well as a (level) three.  Major and severe trauma will always be transported to a higher level of care.”

Pittman went on to say that the Washington County EMS is one of the finest in the area and in cases where they know Scott & White cannot handle a certain case, they will transport to another facility that is equipped to handle that situation.

 

What’s your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0

9 Comments

  1. If any of you have a doctor at the clinic, you already know that they do not have hospital privileges at Scott & White. That is why there are not enough doctors on call. If you get admitted here, you have to see a S&W dr not your own. The clinic and the hospital has made it really difficult for us living here in Brenham. Our choice? Go to Bryan or College Station. Why have a hospital here at all??

  2. If the EMS is so knowledgeable, why did they take the man that got shot to Brenham? They should have known to take him to Bryan to a real hospital. He would ha a better chance anyway

  3. I know for a fact that EMS has the responsibility to take the patient to a higher level of care if they need to. Is Up to EMS to make that decision depending on the severe of the injury/illness. EMS in Washington county do a great Job in taking care and stabilizing the patient and now more than ever we depend on these guys to take care of us when we most need it and I hope they can make the right decision for the patients.

  4. My concern is whether or not this gives a patient a choice as to decide to go straight to BCS or is EMS still supposed to go to the local emergency room and hope that a doctor decides to send them over to BCS. It has been my experience that it is private transport if one feels they need the skills of a higher level ER and it is not agreed upon with the attending physician .

  5. I call foul, Mr. Pittman. You say “this wasn’t financial”. Well then what on earth was it? You mention all the things that an emergency department needs to maintain a level 3, and in the same breath, you say that this was a decision on S&W’s part not to meet those requirements.. So….S&W made the decision to intentionally drop to level 4 based on what is needed to maintain a level 3? You said so yourself. Therefore, it is easy to conclude that it WAS a financial decision, and it is clearly evident that S&W has a plan to funnel trauma cases to the new hospital in College Station, as well as reducing the level of service to Washington County and Brenham while also stripping the Brenham operation of senior, experienced, and dedicated staff members in exchange for ‘gypsies’ who work on contract with no real ties to Brenham other than a pay check. But, I digress. What would you say to a patient who shows up at the ER with a gastric bleed, or a ruptured spleen, or lacerated liver…or a serious orthopedic injury, expecting the same level of treatment that the Brenham ER used to provide (for years and years)??? You will tell them “sorry, we have to send you to College Station”? Yep…it’s most certainly ALL about the money.

  6. I hate the fact it took such a horrible incident for S&W of Brenham to confirm what most of us already knew…“a gunshot wound takes a lot of resources…a certain amount of blood bank, staff and other things.” there should have been a certain amount of life substaining measure that took place in order to stabilize a person for transfer right? Or do they wait to see if they can stablize without assistant then they transfer them or do they let them die? Thanks for the update now Brenham Folks can make an informed decision about which hospital to go to before being forced to one that can not provide the services they need. FYI a gunshot of any sort should always go to a higher level of care not S&W of Brenham. Providing an airway, O2 and IV fluids can be done in the ems! As for the blood have it ready when a trauma call is placed. Sad day in Brenham…

  7. Thank you, KWHI, for letting the folks in Washington County and the surrounding areas know that Scott & White – Brenham has downgraded to a Level 4 facility.

    If one has a need for a higher rated level facility, they should be transported directly to that facility. Why incur additional expenses at Scott & White if they do not have the capability to treat patients that need the services of a more state of the art facility with a Level 3 or 2 rating? EMS can stabilize the patient before/during transport.

    Many folks I know go to St. Joseph’s in Bryan. They are a state of the art facility with outstanding doctors.

    Being that I live in eastern Washington County, I would go to North Cypress Medical Center in Cypress, TX . . . only 40 minutes away.

    North Cypress Medical Center has a 31-bed Emergency Room which features state-of-the-art equipment, specially equipped trauma rooms, a dedicated radiology suite, highly qualified emergency physicians and specialty staff and exceptional medical care. Also has an outstanding hospital. They are open 24/7 with specialty physicians on-call as needed.

    Went to their ER about 2 years ago and although they were very busy, we were seen immediately. No long wait like at Scott & White in Brenham.

    I recently had surgery at North Cypress. Exceptional doctors and exceptional care!

    My second choice would be St. Joseph’s in Bryan although it is further from where I live.

  8. Once the new Scot & White opened in College Station They no longer care to have Doctors on call here Because they want all their Money to go to College station. It was a sad day for the people of Brenham when Trinity faded away. in my opinion , I would go as far as to say that by years end ( 2014) almost ALL services will be done in College station and their will not be much left of the hospital here in our fine town. Just my opinion.

  9. Pittman, what exactly were you thinking????
    Brenham have thousands of people living in the area and none of which can determine if they need emergency care thats why it’s an emergency so S & W hospital should be providing staff 24/7 its sad that the majority of the brenham area can’t depend on whats provided in this town and as for Ems I know they can only do their job but all should be trained to make the call if life flight/ transporting is needed to a different location instead of taking the person needing care to a hospital that will be no help( IV and oxygen can be provided on the ambulance)

Back to top button