Bayfront routing trauma victims to Tampa

ST. PETERSBURG -- A shortage of neurosurgeons at Bayfront Medical Center has prompted emergency workers to take trauma victims to Tampa hospitals.

Bayfront, Pinellas County's only trauma center, temporarily and voluntarily suspended its designation as a Level 2 trauma center. It expects to have neurosurgeons on call again starting at 7 a.m. Thursday.

"There's a shortage of neurosurgeons on our call schedule, and that's really dictating this problem," said hospital spokeswoman Kanika Tomalin.

In the meantime, trauma patients -- victims of serious accidents, violence or other catastrophic injuries -- will be diverted to Tampa General Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center, or St. Joseph's Hospital, a Level 2 trauma center.

Bayfront voluntarily contacted state regulators Tuesday morning to temporarily suspend its Level 2 trauma designation. Bayfront expects to have its Level 2 trauma designation restored Thursday.

The hospital sees about 2,600 trauma patients and 45,000 emergency patients a year. It is still handling routine emergencies and hospital visits.

Tomalin said the hospital is trying to hire more neurosurgeons. "We're always looking for neurosurgeons,'' Tomalin said.

- Lisa Greene, Times staff writer

Comments

[Steve]

this is what happens when the public becomes sue happy.....this is only the begining I hope people are ready. The shortage is a direct consequence of neurosurgeons not wanting to work in the state of florida with its malpractice crisis

[Good Grief Charlie Brown!]

Oh please Steve, I hope you are kidding! If you aren't you obviously haven't been in a malpractice situation, especially where a neurosurgeon is concerned. I have and trust me when I tell you the doctors are TOTALLY protected more then the patient. It has nothing to do with patients being sue happy but everything to do with sloppy doctors. Also it is EXTREMELY hard in the state of Florida to sue a neurosurgeon because the head guy has let it be known that if any other neurosurgeon testifies as an expert witness against another neurosurgeon there will be hell to pay. It's absolutely rediculous! I would love to go into it more but this isn't the time nor place. Either way if you are truly curious about what I say it's not difficult to research yourself.

[objective observation]

in response to Good Grief Charlie Brown: malpractice lawsuits don't have "everything to do with sloppy doctors". That opinion is obviously biased. Neurosurgeons that take trauma call have to care for very critically injured patients who no matter what will have bad outcomes. That in itself puts them at high risk for lawsuits even if they did everything right.

[Bill]

Charlie Brown, you are very misinformed, and it is your argument that is "rediculous". The malpractice situation in Florida, and many other states, is absurd - in combination with the Medicare formula for reimbursement it is directly leading to a loss of quality in the healthcare patients receive. It will also lead to more incidents like this.
Is it right that physicians should pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for insurance while attorneys and insurance companies reap the benefits? Is it right that the care given by physicians be dictated by non-physician business people interested only in the bottom line, forcing a combination of microeconomic cost-cutting and macroeconomic CYA medicine? Good grief indeed.

[Annie Foster]

Please let Bayfront Medical Center get back on board with the wonderful neurosurgeons they have or did when I lived there. Dr. Passaro is wonderful as he was my doctor when I had 2 TIA in 2006.

St. Pete is so lucky to have Bayfront Medical Center for their medical needs.

[John B.]

I believe the "malpractice crisis" has more to do with Drs not wanting to be grilled by trial lawyers about their conduct than anything else. While I am sure some Drs are struggling financially, most that I know have a few fancy cars, a big house and huge annual incomes. It is way too easy (and fun) to blame trial lawyers for this.

[Frank]

Name me another profession that takes 13+ years of training (basically a sacrifice of your 20s), $200,000 in debt, long hours, high pressure, and through it all to remain devoted to your patients - all with various people breathing down your neck with numerous threats to your livelihood. Physicians deserve a lot more than they get.
By the way, "a few fancy cars, a big house and huge annual incomes" is NOT the norm today. Maybe 15 years ago.

They on strike? Fire them!

They're not on strike, there's not enough of them because nobody wants to practice in FL. And why are other professions allowed to unionize and strike but not physicians?

[Sharon]

Charlie Brown must not have lived in Florida very long. Two of my GOOD doctors left their practices because of the cost of malpractice insurance. They were very caring compassionate people who spent years and hundreds of thousands getting educated - one at Harvard, no less. Bayfront is an excellent hospital. If there were enough neurosurgeons available in Florida, I'm sure they'd like to practice there.

[RN]

As a former trauma nurse, I must say that it has been my experience over 10 years at two very large (Level 2)trauma centers that MOST doctors truly do have the patient's best interest at heart. If you want to criticize people who "live large", you should perhaps instead look at the CEO's of large companies versus doctors -- there's no comparison in length of education, hours worked, perks/bonuses received, etc., etc.

[Robbie]

Charlie Brown it is sad to think that for your opinion, to be what it is, comes from a horrible incident caused or not caused by acts of a sloppy Doctor. Either way I am sure the pain will still remain. These doctor’s are in the only profession that I would love see be spoiled in riches. They save lives, if they didn’t, at sometime, save a life, then they would not have a job. Doctors drive nice cars, and if one saved my daughters life I would buy them 100 cars better and more expensive. They deserve more than what they get, so back of Jonny B. I hope it comes one day that the nice car having, big house owning doctor has to save your life; I want you to look at him and tell him he’s overpaid for what he does.

[Vicki]

I believe the neurosurgeons are caught up in the hospital and corporate political B.S. on a larger level than we as patients experience. It is a sad situation for all of us.

Nobody with only the money interest could ever endure the stress of medical training. There must be something else deep down inside. On the other hand, there is no other way to get through law school except with visions of dollar signs floating before your eyes. Remember your average doctor could pass a Bar exam on a lark, just by reading "Law for Dummies/Weasels",only problem is a lawyer would sue him/her.