How does that "2%" line up with the "30%" David Anderson mentioned.Jim O'Bryan wrote: I called Lakewood ER this afternoon, and got a number of under 2% of the patients in Lakewood ER need to be transferred to another institution. Meaning they are being treated and released out of the emergency room here in Lakewood.
One of the concerns expressed to me was, when asked on an emergency run, people are opting for Fairview or Metro because they have heard Lakewood Hospital is closed, which of course it is. Fearing EMS services are inadequate they are asking to go to Fairview and Metro, which is putting a strain on local EMS crews with the additional travel time.
In other words, rumors and distrust are adding to the problem. I have not spoken to David Anderson about this, but I have spoken with him and others about conversations on the Deck, and they fear, because people read the Deck, instead of merely speaking of problems in open conversation we could be adding to the problems we are talking about.
I pulled out the rest of this answer because it was actually questions to all Deck members and looking for input.
It seems to me that fear of giving out the information that they thought might keep people away was the reason given long ago for not talking about what the Lakewood ER can and can't do. Instead they've self-fulfilled their prophecy.