The Indiana General Assembly
has been told by Gov. Mitch Daniels that money isn't
available for spending on new projects. His position is
commendable, but the exception must be creation of a trauma
center in Northwest Indiana.
State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, is chairman of the House
Public Health Committee. He knows where the gaps in health
care are -- including his own corner of Indiana.
House Bill 1215 would help fill that gap by generating money
for trauma care.
Brown has said for a long time Northwest Indiana should have
its own trauma center, and he's right. There are seven such
centers elsewhere in Indiana. Why not in Northwest Indiana?
The region has numerous expressways and rail lines, a heavy
concentration of heavy industry and enough violence,
unfortunately, to create demand for a trauma center. Trauma
centers have surgeons and specialists on call at all hours
for advanced care.
The need is even greater now that a trauma center in Olympia
Fields closed and Northwest Indiana patients must go the
distance to Chicago.
Brown's plan addresses many health care needs, not just the
provision of trauma care.
His legislation would add an $18 court fee to most moving
violations to generate money for trauma centers. That makes
sense; their poor driving increases the need for trauma
care.
A $1 surcharge on license plate renewals and $1 on driver's
license renewals would bring the total amount collected for
the fund to $16.6 million annually. That's little pain for
great gain.
Here's how that proposal fits into the big picture:
* The Indiana University School of Medicine needs to expand
its Gary location to offer four years of instruction, not
just the first two. That would increase the likelihood of
keeping doctors in Northwest Indiana to practice in areas
that are currently underserved.
* An expanded medical school would benefit from the
establishment of a teaching hospital, which could help
supply trained medical staff throughout Northwest Indiana.
* Methodist Hospital's Northlake Campus in Gary is an aging
facility that should be replaced. Methodist has a great
track record of service and care in the community and is
making good use of its current facilities.
Even so, it is time to build a new Methodist Hospital in
Gary, provide trauma care there, and use it as a teaching
hospital. The urgent need now is for the state to pay its
fair share for the provision of this essential health care
in Northwest Indiana.
Brown's legislation, HB 1215, deserves the General
Assembly's hearty support.
Look it up online
To read House Bill 1215 and watch its progress, visit
http://nwi.com/opinion
Your opinion, please
Should the state help pay for a trauma center in Gary?
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http://nwi.com/opinion
