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Highlands Today

Airlift Questions

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Christine Douglass

Published: January 11, 2008

This is a response to the story about the gentleman responding to the article of the woman who was airlifted to Tampa following a stabbing in Avon Park.

I believe that this gentleman is misinformed on some of his facts and I would like to set the record straight. First I will say that I am a nurse at Florida Hospital and am proud to work and serve my community. Our hospitals (in Sebring, Lake Placid and Wauchula) all are capable of handling most emergencies we face in Highlands County.

We are able to handle most emergencies, but apparently not this woman's. She had sustained knife wounds, which could not be handled in Highlands County and the decision was made to get her somewhere quickly where she could get her wounds taken care of.

The decision to airlift her was made by the EMTs that arrived at the scene, along with the physician that they were in contact with at the hospital.

This decision was not taken lightly. Not only does it cost a lot of money, but the personnel do not want a chopper tied up with unnecessary cases when there may be more serious cases waiting to be transported. It would have taken several hours or longer, depending on the traffic, to transport this woman to Tampa by ground in an ambulance.

She was airlifted because she needed help immediately and not because she had no insurance. People are not flown to Tampa because area hospitals will not treat them. Florida Hospital accepts all patients whether or not they have insurance. As a not-for-profit hospital we are involved with the people of our community and their healthcare needs.

In conclusion, I just want to say that Highlands County has some of the best physicians, nurses and EMTs around providing medical care to our community. And I thank God that we have helicopter services when we need them.

Christine Douglass
Avon Park

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