|
|
|
|
General Assistance Medical Care Weekly Report
Days until GAMC is eliminated: 71
This week Regions Hospital, Minnesotas only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, was called on to treat a 6-year-old girl who suffered a head injury in a ski accident. Thanks to the care she received at Regions, and the helmet she was wearing, the girl went home after just five days, despite having run into a tree head-on. Regions ability to provide a specially trained team of healthcare providers 24/7 for critically injured children is just one of its crucial statewide functions. The loss of revenue from the elimination of GAMC raises questions about the ability of hospitals like Regions to continue providing these important statewide resources.
Story of the week: Jeff, age 28*
Jeff has a long history of personality disorders. When he stopped taking his medications, his family was concerned about his aggressive behavior and called 911. Police brought Jeff to the Regions Emergency Center, where it was determined he was not safe to leave the hospital and could be a harm to both himself and others. Jeff required a more-than $15,000, seven-day hospital stay to become stable again. GAMC will reimburse the hospital for his care and he will receive his needed medications. Without health coverage and access to medications, Jeff's cycle from the Emergency Center to Inpatient Care and back to the Emergency Center will likely continue.
GAMC care provided by Regions Hospital for the week of Nov. 23, 2009:
| Emergency Room |
75 |
| Inpatient |
23 |
| Same Day Surgery |
4 |
| Outpatient** |
97 |
| Patients with serious mental illness |
36 |
| |
Week of Nov. 23, 2009 |
Since funding was cut (May) |
| Total GAMC patient visits*** |
199 |
6588 |
| Reimbursement that will be lost |
$275,105 |
$9.3 million |
* Not patients real name or age
** Outpatient visits include radiology, chemotherapy, chemical dependency, mental health and other diagnostic visits.
*** Enrolled in GAMC or in process of enrolling
|
|
|
|
|
|
