This is a much better question for DB, a retired hospital administrator. Generally you need at least one well qualified trauma surgeon. You may need an OR right off the ER, or at least close by. You probably need ER docs and some nurses who are certified in ATLS. And then, of course, you need to jump through the state's paperwork hoops and probably a CON

:agree: Depraved indifference is a good phrase to use to describe his behavior.
According to the online newspaper, he admitted leaving her injured because he wanted to avoid getting into trouble!
A selfish act that led to her death. May God have mercy on his soul.

Cart death
 

In FL, as in many other states, there are specific requirements and differing levels of competency. All levels require an application that is reviewed/approved by the State.

In addition to some of the physical characteristics noted by GE, there are others that pose difficulty. Level 1 trauma centers are the most comprehensive. They are usually found in major teaching hospitals, with numerous specialty and subspecialty residencies and fellowships. Certain types of physicians must be in-house 24/7. E.g., anesthesia, general surgery, Orthopaedic surgery, trauma surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine, and sometimes OB and cardiac surgery. To maintain such readiness is extremely costly, and usually requires a very close relationship with a medical school. And as GE noted various certification levels are also required.


I believe there are 5-6 designated level 1 centers in all of FL. Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, and Jacksonville. Level 2 centers are not required to have as many in-house specialties or the breadth of facilities. However, these are also very expensive to operate.

Several years ago the state agreed to assist in funding the development of additional Level 3 centers. These are far less comprehensive than Level 1's. Ocala Regional and Monroe Regional both opened new centers during this period.

There are ongoing requirements for each level, and the State visits and assesses each center on a regular basis.

The Villages Regional Hospital lacks, IMO, required specialty and subspecialty physicians, as well as certain facilities and equipment. They also do not have a close relationship with a medical school.

If we were going to have a Level 3 center close by, it would be much more likely at Leesburg than at The Villages. Two reasons: Leesburg has a cardiac surgery program and OB. Why is OB important, you ask? If a pregnant woman is in an auto collision you want OBs involved in her care. The Villages can't do this.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

DB, in practice for areas that are not in a major metropolitan area, like central Florida, isn't the distance to a trauma center determined by a helicopter ride, not an ambulance ride?

Also Ocala Regional says on it's web page that it is a level 2 trauma center. That's not too far by helicopter standards, is it? I know when my wife stayed there for a while helicopters seemed to be landing quite often.

Yes, to some extent. But ambulance times are usually considered also since they aren't as affected by bad weather to the extent air rides are.

And thanks for the pickup on Levels. My bad and you are correct. I should have said the state wanted to expand the number of Level 2 centers.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

according to the article, she was dumped in the flower bed on the median on BV at 44. What was a golf cart doing in that location? No wonder he was spotted by witnesses

Thank God for the witnesses.

From Villages News July 28, 2017

The son of a Village of Gilchrist couple remains free on bond after the death of a woman he met during a night of drinking at City Fire. Timothy Jacob Foxworth, 36, is facing charges of driving under the influence and hit and run following his arrest July 16 by Wildwood police. He had been drinking with his father at City Fire at Brownwood Paddock Square where he met 51-year-old Shelly Osterhout of Fort Myers.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...9e2728402d2b69

Foxworth had been sipping on vodka and grapefruit when he told Osterhout he would take his father back to his home on Norwood Street. He said he would come back and continue drinking with her. Foxworth and his father got into the golf cart and the younger man returned a short time later. Shelly Osterout and Foxworth later left in the golf cart. He headed toward Buena Vista Boulevard and made a sharp U-turn. Osterhout fell from the golf cart. Foxworth dragged her body into a flower bed and fled the scene, according to an arrest report. He later told police he had panicked.

He claimed he had a change of heart and was returning to help Osterhout, but police pointed out he had been heading in the wrong direction for that to be true. Osterhout suffered injuries to her head and was transported as a trauma alert to Ocala Regional Medical Center where she later died of injuries suffered in the accident.

Services for Osterhout are being held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 29 at Next Level Church in Fort Myers.

In case anyone is interested here is a list of trauma centers in Florida http://www.floridahealth.gov/licensi...sting20151.pdf

This does not appear to be the entire list, only those in Florida Health System??? Is it complete??? There are five levels with five probably being the more typical Emergency Room Setting with specialists not immediately available.

Usually, if a Trauma Center is needed, one would need special transporting. And before the moddies tell us to stay on topic...I SHOULD start a new thread.

There is a REASON that there aren't new Trauma Centers Opening . Those in business don't want to share business. Read this;

Four new trauma centers open in Florida, ending years of fights - Commentaries - Health - Health WMFE - Local News - 90.7 WMFE

Apparently, Governor Scott who was in The Health Care business would like to see the laws changed and a more "free market" approach allowed on this. I hope this doesn't get political.

Concern?
 

I harken again to my experience as a deputy sheriff, and recall a case where two men who had been stopped for a traffic offense, overpowered and severely beat a FHP Trooper.

They beat him so severely that he was unrecognizable to people who knew him. After beating him they dragged him to the shoulder of the road and drove off.

When the Trooper originally stopped the car he radioed in the license tag number. Accordingly, we had the address of the owner of the car. We, deputy sheriffs, apprehended the two men at the home of the owner. One man surrendered. The other fought and was shot in the leg. He continued to fight until overpowered by several deputies.

At trial, the Judge mitigated the charges and the sentence of the men citing the fact that they had dragged the Trooper to the shoulder of the road, out of the traffic lane of the highway.

So, you see, the fact that this cart driver dragged the injured lady into the flower bed might be cited by a defense attorney as an evidence of concern for her well being. He might also argue that his client, being impaired by alcohol, was not aware of how severely she was injured.

We live in a strange world.

That's a fact. I have a good mom also.

Her obituary does not mention being survived by a spouse....something happened...or the family doesnt recognize him...

I agree. This makes me very sad. Just as it is easy to be a Monday Morning Quarter back, it is easy to dissect the life of someone we have never met?