LIMITING TRAUMA CARE JG

A SANTA CLARA COUNTY PROPOSAL - THAT COULD AFFECT PATIENTS TREATED FOR SERIOUS INJURIES IN SANTA CRUZ, MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES - HAS STUNNED A SANTA CRUZ COUNTY OFFICIAL. LAST WEEK SANTA CLARA COUNTY?S HOSPITAL SYSTEM CHIEF, ROBERT SILLEN, RECOMMENDED THE COUNTY?S TRAUMA CENTERS BEGIN TURNING AWAY PATIENTS AIRLIFTED FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. SILLEN?S RECOMMENDATION IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE DECEMBER 1ST CLOSING OF THE SAN JOSE MEDICAL CENTER. OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED THE TWO REMAINING TRAUMA CENTERS WILL BE STRAINED TO ACCOMMODATE PATIENTS AFTER THE CLOSING. THE PROPOSAL MUST BE APPROVED BY THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. MARDI WORMHOUDT, CHAIRPERSON OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, OPPOSES THE MOVE. IN A LETTER TO THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD, SHE SAID THE ACTION COULD ENDANGER RESIDENTS OF SANTA CLARA?S NEIGHBORING COUNTIES - AND SANTA CLARA RESIDENTS WHO INJURE THEMSELVES IN OTHER AREAS. AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY BOARD HAS SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THE PROPOSAL.