Pasco hospital gets trauma center status

NEW PORT RICHEY - The sound of a Bayflite medical helicopter is a familiar one to emergency medical crews in Pasco County.

"We always think of patients first. If there is any doubt, we err on the side of caution and fly (patients) to a trauma center just to be safe," according to New Port Richey Fire Rescue Captain Bill Gregorie.

Treating trauma patients is always a race against time. In Pasco County, that race against time is complicated by distance.

"The closest trauma center for us is Bayfront Medical Center, that's about 50 miles away," said Steve Rector, CEO of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson.

Things will soon change in Pasco County. The Florida Department of Health has approved Regional Medical Center's application to build a level two trauma center.

The approval would significantly cut the time it takes to get Pasco County trauma patients to an appropriately staffed and equipped emergency room.

"Studies have shown that survivability rates increase when a patient is initially transported to a trauma center, and so by being able to go to a trauma center initially will greatly increase their chances of survival," according to Mark Anderson, trauma services program director at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point

"A level two trauma center will be able to take on any of those patients that come to us who happen to be in any type of motor vehicle accident, or any type of traumatic situation. We'll be able to treat those patients here without transferring them," Rector said.

The hospital could spend up to $5 million to upgrade its emergency room to level two trauma center standards. It could take more than a year to complete the project.