Wow, only two 24hr staffed ambulances? They seem to have been very busy lately. We Sumter Co. residents need to follow this issue closely. If the new service is truly inferior, we should demand remedies from the county gov't.
If you google "FL trauma centers" you'll find there are 22 hospitals in the state of Florida that qualify as trauma hospitals. Seven are "Level 1" centers capable of delivering the highest level of care in the shortest possible time. As Sunny was told, the closest trauma centers to us are UF Shands, Orlando Regional, and Tampa General, all of which, fortunately, are Level 1.
I have a question for Frank and Spk: on what basis is the decision made for a patient to be transferred to a trauma center and is it the EMS personnel who decide? Are only those with severe injuries transferred there or are heart attack, stroke victims, etc. taken there also?
And in this case, why did the EMS personnel suggest going to Munroe and then not know the direction?
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