Hospital To Remain Level 1 Trauma Center
posted July 2, 2008
Erlanger Medical Center is closing its burn unit, officials confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
At the same time, Dr. Cy Huffman, chief medical officer, sent out a fax saying the hospital currently "has very tenuous coverage by gastroenterologists."
Dr. Huffman said the hospital is continuing to discuss with local gastroenterologists and seek to recruit "to secure reliable consult coverage as soon as possible."
Gastroenterologists from the Galen Group are reportedly no longer serving Erlanger. There was no word from Erlanger on the situation.
She said, "We have been unable to recruit a replacement. After careful consideration and consultation with the local plastic surgeons providing coverage for the unit, Erlanger officials have determined that closing our burn unit is in the best interests of major burn patients.
"This change does not affect Erlanger’s status as a level 1 Trauma Center.
"Burn patients will still be accepted at Erlanger. Those with major burns, especially with burns affecting more than 20 percent of their bodies, will be assessed, stabilized and transferred to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., or the Vanderbilt Burn Center in Nashville, for long-term treatment.
"Pediatric burn patients will continue to be transferred to the Shriners Burns Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, as has always been the protocol.
"Less severe burns will continue to be treated at Erlanger, with plastic surgeons, trauma specialists, intensivists and other specially-trained professionals supervising their care in an appropriate area of the hospital – an intensive care unit, inpatient room and/or the Erlanger Wound Care Center. All of the employees of the unit have been absorbed into other areas of the hospital. This decision was made with the best interests of our patients as our primary consideration. We will continue to assess the situation."
Dr. Huffman said in his fax, "As of today, we have very tenuous coverage by gastroenterologists. Dr. Magill (Hospitalist Service), Dr. Boldt (Critical Care) and members of the Emergency General Surgery Service (and our colorectal surgeons) have worked together beautifully to ensure that patients with emergent conditions receive appropriate initial assessment, stabilization and treatment up to the full current capabilities of our Active Medical Staff." He also said, "I believe with the help of the physician groups listed above that all truly emergent conditions will be covered to the full extent of our capabilities. The House Supervisors will make a good faith effort to identify a gastroenterologist to see non-emergent consults. We will continue our discussion with some of our local gastroenterologists and our active recruiting efforts in order to secure reliable consult coverage as soon as possible."
Erlanger, dealing with $12.3 million in losses through the first 11 months of this fiscal year, recently announced that 200 positions were being eliminated.
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