STANFORD PICKING UP SLACK JG

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE RELIEVED NOW THAT AN AREA HOSPITAL HAS SAID THEY WILL TAKE THE AREA?S TRAUMA PATIENTS STARTING IN DECEMBER. STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER HAS AGREED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DOCTORS AND NURSES AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCIES AND ALSO ADD BEDS AND SPACE SO THAT TRAUMA PATIENTS WILL NOT BE TURNED AWAY FROM TREATMENT. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AFTER SANTA CLARA COUNTY OFFICIALS HAD PROPOSED CUTTING OFF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO TRAUMA PATIENTS FLOWN IN FROM OTHER AREAS TO DEAL WITH THE DECEMBER 1ST CLOSING OF THE SAN JOSE MEDICAL CENTER. THE ARRANGEMENT WILL ALLOW TRAUMA PATIENTS FROM SANTA CRUZ COUNTY ACCESS TO MEDICAL ATTENTION, SUCH AS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO BRAIN, ORTHOPEDIC AND PLASTIC SURGEONS, NOT AVAILABLE AT EITHER DOMINICAN OR WATSONVILLE HOSPITALS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.