West Virginia’s emergency medical-care system got a “C” grade in
the most recent national survey by the American College of Emergency
Physicians. While the state got a “B” for emergency-room access and high rankings for staffed
inpatient beds and psychiatric beds, ACEP’s National
Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine gave it a "D" in public health and injury prevention and disaster preparedness.
West Virginia ranks 41st for infant mortality and 50th for both obesity
and smoking, the report card states. The report said that the state should start requiring mandatory pre-trial screening panels
and require medical expert witnesses to be licensed in the state. A reporting system is also needed for hospital-incurred infections and “adverse events” or medical mistakes.
timeswv.com also reports:
“This report’s message is clear — we have to do a better job of supporting emergency patients,” said Dr. Joseph Hartzog, president of the West Virginia chapter of ACEP. “The tough economic times we’re facing make it imperative that we do everything we can to strengthen our emergency-care system,” Hartzog said.
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