Lexington Herald Leader Logo

Study shows Ky.'s ERs are some of worst in the nation | Lexington Herald Leader

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • All News
    • Business
    • Communities
    • Counties
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Lexington
    • Local
    • Most Wanted
    • Nation/World
    • News Photos
    • News Videos
    • Politics
    • Searchable Databases
    • State
    • Watchdog
    • Columns
    • Tom Eblen
    • All Sports
    • UK Sports
    • College Sports
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • High School
    • Horses
    • Kentucky Speedway
    • Lexington Legends
    • Reds
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NASCAR
    • NFL
    • Sports Photos
    • Sports Videos
    • Columns
    • John Clay's Columns
    • Mark Story
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • All UK Sports
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • Baseball
    • Basketball - Men
    • Basketball - Women
    • Recruiting
    • Ex-Cats
    • Football
    • UK Photos
    • UK Videos
    • More UK Sports
    • Columns
    • John Clay's Blog
    • Mark Story
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • All Entertainment
    • Books
    • Celebrities
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Events Calendar
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Restaurants
    • Stage & Dance
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Entertainment Photos
    • Entertainment Videos
    • News Blogs
    • Kentucky Weather
    • Photo Archive
    • Sports Blogs
    • John Clay's Blog
    • High School
    • UK Football
    • UK Men's Basketball
    • UK Women's Basketball
    • Lexington Legends
    • Entertainment Blogs
    • Walter Tunis on Music
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Joel Pett
    • Letters to the Editor
    • National Columnists
    • Op-Ed
    • Submit a Letter
    • All Living
    • Celebrations
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Fru-Gal: Deb Morris
    • Health & Medicine
    • Home & Garden
    • Paul Prather
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Readers' Choice
    • Kentucky Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Customer Service
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • E-edition
    • Page Reprints
    • Photo Reprints
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Site Information
    • Advertise With Us
    • Archives
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Google+
    • Today's Circulars
    • Classifieds
    • Jobs
    • Cars
    • Homes
    • Homeseller
    • Legal Notices
  • Place an Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Health & Medicine

Study shows Ky.'s ERs are some of worst in the nation

By Mary Meehan - mmeehan1@herald-leader.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

January 27, 2014 10:40 PM

Kentucky's emergency rooms rank among the worst in the nation, but health officials say it's policy, not patient care, that accounts for the low score.

"The report isn't a judgment on the quality of care," said Dr. Ryan Stanton, a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, which released a state-by-state report card this month.

Kentucky ranked 47th, dropping from 44th when the last report was issued in 2009. The reports covered not only quality of care but access to care, public health, disaster preparedness and medical liability.

Across the board the report showed there is work to be done in emergency rooms. Top ranking District of Columbia received only a B- score and the national average, according to the report, as a D+. Kentucky scored a D overall.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Lexington Herald-Leader

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

There were some bright spots for the state. Kentucky scored 12th for access to care, said Stanton, who practices emergency medicine in Kentucky.

But, he said, the state suffered because of a failing grade for issues surrounding medical liability. Stanton said current law allows for unqualified experts to testify in malpractice cases on behalf of patients and families. Kentucky, he said, has "a terrible state of medical liability."

The fear of an unfounded lawsuit can keep emergency room doctors from coming to Kentucky to practice, he said.

A newly formed group made up of health care organizations and business groups called the Care First Kentucky Coalition, is pushing for legislation this year that would create medical panels to review proposed claims against health care providers before lawsuits are filed. Similar legislation has failed to pass in previous sessions.

Dick Bartlett, emergency preparedness/trauma coordinator for the Kentucky Hospital Association, said the malpractice issues have been tough to deal with.

But, he said, the report doesn't reflect a lot of work that is going on to improve Kentucky's emergency rooms.

For example, there is a ongoing movement to standardize trauma protocols among first responders, such as EMTs, and hospital emergency rooms throughout the state, he said.

Because of the geography of the mountains and the remote locations of some folks in rural areas, Kentucky faces some special challenges, he said, adding that while the state had only three designated trauma centers in 2008, there are now 11.

"I believe we are going in the right direction," he said.

  Comments  

Videos

5 things to avoid flushing down your toilet

Woman tells her story of DUI arrest to prevent others from drinking and driving

View More Video

Trending Stories

Pazzo’s, Magee’s Bakery, Texas de Brazil, Sonic, Qdoba and more on probation

February 15, 2019 06:45 AM

Kentucky Senate approves NRA gun bill on anniversary of Parkland school shooting

February 14, 2019 11:59 AM

Updated list of restaurants on probation as of February: Read before you eat

February 15, 2019 07:00 AM

‘She has to come home.’ Here’s how you can help find missing Kentucky mom

February 15, 2019 03:03 PM

Paradise no more. TVA votes to close iconic coal-burning power plant in Kentucky.

February 14, 2019 11:09 AM

Read Next

Health & Medicine

Woman is 1st openly autistic person to practice law in state

By AUSTEN ERBLAT The Sun Sentinel

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 16, 2019 03:00 AM

At 3, Haley Moss was diagnosed with autism and doctors thought she may never be able to work a minimum wage job or live on her own. Last month, she became the first openly autistic person to be admitted to the Florida Bar.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Lexington Herald-Leader

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE HEALTH & MEDICINE

Widow of sheriff’s deputy speaks out about mental illness

Health & Medicine

Widow of sheriff’s deputy speaks out about mental illness

February 16, 2019 01:01 AM

Health & Medicine

North Dakota man shares story about recovering from anorexia

February 16, 2019 01:01 AM

Health & Medicine

Group offers support to parents who have lost children

February 16, 2019 01:01 AM
Updated list of restaurants on probation as of February: Read before you eat

Restaurant News & Reviews

Updated list of restaurants on probation as of February: Read before you eat

February 15, 2019 07:00 AM
Pazzo’s, Magee’s Bakery, Texas de Brazil, Sonic, Qdoba and more on probation

Restaurant News & Reviews

Pazzo’s, Magee’s Bakery, Texas de Brazil, Sonic, Qdoba and more on probation

February 15, 2019 06:45 AM

Health & Medicine

Illinois EPA shuts sterilization facility due to pollution

February 15, 2019 11:03 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Lexington Herald Leader App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Local Deals
  • Digital Solutions
  • Media Kit
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story