Hackensack hospital adding a trauma unit on wheels

[Bjorn, Pret]

Poked a nerve, I guess.

Sad thing is, I don't think we disagree, least of all about my highly
variable smarts; but also about the effects of politics on healthcare
policy.

The fact that HUMC (apparently) got its paws on $3.5 million of taxpayer
funds for a high-profile project directly impacting EP and EMS, without
the related state agencies (apparently) exerting any influence on the
process, is symptomatic of the deliberate sequestration of experience
and imagination in public policy.  Little wonder that the products are
incompatible with real life to the point of self-parody.

Even then, one has to wonder at this magnitude of compartmentalization:
this ambitious and far-reaching proposal made it from Hackensack to the
United States Senate -- and back again -- without anyone running it by
the agencies which would presumably be responsible to license and
control it?  

Lily Tomlin said it best: no matter how cynical I become, I can't keep
up.

Pret


-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Hammond
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 10:17 AM
To: 'Trauma & Critical Care mailing list'
Subject: RE: Hackensack hospital adding a trauma unit on wheels

This is a stupid comment from an otherwise cogent observer. Wake up to
politics. Congressmen and women throughout the country obtain perks for
their home districts based on congressional "carve-outs" that are
virtually
unregulated. Do you think for a moment that those who stand to benefit
consult with others who might rain on their parade, derail their efforts
or
share the limelight? The state of NJ is as much a victim of this as
anyone
else.  


Jeffrey Hammond MD, MPH
Chief, Trauma/Surgical Critical Care
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New Brunswick, NJ
ph: 732-235-7920
e-mail: hammond at umdnj.edu
 
-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org]
On Behalf Of Bjorn, Pret
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 9:19 AM
To: Trauma & Critical Care mailing list
Subject: RE: Hackensack hospital adding a trauma unit on wheels

-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Hammond
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2006 10:37 AM
To: 'Trauma & Critical Care mailing list'
Subject: RE: Hackensack hospital adding a trauma unit on wheels

"To the best of my knowledge, this purchase was a unilateral one, not
coordinated with exisiting agencies in NJ..." 



Even allowing for extremes of incompetence and corruption at every level
(pity: such has become so easy to do), this is difficult to believe.
How could this NOT have triggered state, regional, and local EMS and
Emergency Preparedness participation?  New Jersey should be ashamed.  

Even more than usual.

(Kidding; but you have to admit, it's too easy to do...)

>From a systems standpoint, an RV-ICU is an abjectly stupid idea.  Three
and a half million dollars could be far better spent on EMS
infrastructure;
or perhaps better yet, combatting violent crime.  Think
ahead: in the event of an actual large-scale emergency in any US city,
this
big, shiny hospital camper will be a stripped, crumpled, smoldering hulk
within an hour.  (At least half of the hardware budget should be
dedicated
to armor.)

Imagine a day when the bureaucrats discover that improving emergency
care
begins with supporting the existing system, not attaching expensive,
fragile, low-yield doohickeys to it.

..... And don't think I didn't notice that a couple of DEMOCRATS were
apparently behind this nonsense.  Grrr.

Pret Bjorn, RN
Bangor, ME USA

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