WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, a trauma patient, meaning someone who has sustained a life-threatening bodily injury, such as a gunshot wound, is transported to a hospital that is designated as a trauma center; and
WHEREAS, Trauma centers have the staff, services and equipment needed to care for those with life-threatening bodily injuries and are staffed by trauma teams 24 hours a day, including surgeons and neurosurgeons; and
WHEREAS, The organization responsible for accrediting trauma centers is the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. The Foundation has categorized trauma centers into four levels; and
WHEREAS, Level I Trauma Centers are authorized to treat those most in need of critical emergency care. They require trauma research, a surgical residency program and an annual 600 major trauma patients per year; and
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, Level I trauma centers include: Einstein Medical Center, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Temple University Hospital, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; and
WHEREAS, The adequate mapping out of trauma center locations, when responding to a trauma patient, has an impact on whether the patient receives treatment earlier rather than later. When dealing with critical injuries, transportation to a trauma center that is not closest to where the patient is being transported from could jeopardize the patient’s life; and
WHEREAS, On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, a 14-year-old was shot and killed in front of Roxborough Highschool. The student was transported from Roxborough to Einstein Medical Center, nearly 7 miles away. The student did not survive his injuries; and
WHEREAS, The joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Health and Human Services should evaluate the mapping of trauma centers throughout the city, how many trauma beds are available and whether the city’s current trauma centers need resources to increase capacity to better serve city residents. This hearing should include our partners at the state level, to ensure all resources available are dedicated to this important need; now there for be it,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes the joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Health and Human Service to hold a hearing investigating the mapping out of trauma centers across the city and how they are selected when transporting shooting victims; and inviting the House Democratic Policy Committee and Senate Democratic Policy Committee to participate in these hearings.
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