SALISBURY, Md.- TidalHealth’s trauma services could be in jeopardy due to a lack of necessary funding. According to TidalHealth President and CEO Steven Leonard, if Maryland does not help address the budgetary losses the hospital system is currently seeing, TidalHealth may have to shut down its Salisbury trauma service.
Categorized as a Level III center, TidalHealth’s trauma service is the only one on Delmarva. If shut down, the closest trauma center for the region would be in Baltimore.
In an apparent effort to keep services affordable across the state’s healthcare system, The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission sets a revenue cap on how much a hospital system receives in state funds. TidalHealth says that cap has barely changed in years.
As Delmarva’s population rapidly grows though, so too do the operating costs of the trauma service. In TidalHealth’s view, the combination of a static funding limit and an ever-ballooning patient demand is a recipe for disaster.
"When you talk about the 3 million that come during the summer and Ocean City’s population swelling to 300,000 every day, that means we treat trauma patients from all over," said Leonard.
"There’s evidence out there about the golden hour, that from the time that you’ve had an injury, you’ve got an hour to get the definitive services in the operating room. Given our geographic location, if you take longer than that, mortality goes up and you have people with worse outcomes and even death," said Leonard.
TidalHealth is asking Maryland lawmakers to change the formula on how funding for hospital systems is calculated to ensure they are properly equipped and staffed to avoid these worst-case scenarios
State Senator Johnny Mautz agrees, saying lawmakers need to reevaluate how funding is allocated for hospitals.
"It's hard enough to operate a trauma center and provide medicine. Much less, try to deal with constant financial crisis, which is ultimately the goal to get beyond that," said Mautz.
In a statement to WBOC, the Health Services Cost Review Commission assured that TidalHealth’s concerns were being considered and reviewed.
"The Health Services Cost Review Commission is actively reviewing an application from TidalHealth Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) for emergency rate relief, which was filed April 12th,” the Commission said. “This review will consider the financial performance of TidalHealth.”
“The Health Services Cost Review Commission is committed to ensuring access to hospital care throughout Maryland while maintaining reasonable hospital rates for the public."
What that review ultimately decides for TidalHealth’s funding, and the fate of Delmarva’s only trauma service, remains to be seen.
“This is absolutely an equity issue for the state,” Steven Leonard said. “The folks on Delmarva should have access to the same high quality care we have in Baltimore.”
While trauma services could be shuttered due to lack of funding, it should be noted that the TidalHealth Emergency Room is in no danger of closing.
