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Published Friday, December 26, 2008 in Opinion

Report says we need to look at trauma care as an investment

Editorial

When Georgia lawmakers convene in January for the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly, one of the priority items on the agenda will be trauma care. The big question will be: How can lawmakers find up to $100 million during these dire economic times to fund trauma care throughout the state?

That won't be easy, but trauma care remains a priority.

As lawmakers look at fees on car tags and cell phones and at other sources of trauma care revenue, a Medical College of Georgia analysis has provided an interesting conclusion.

In a news story last week, Morris News Service Atlanta Bureau Chief Walter Jones reported the report prepared by physicians concluded that a network of specialized trauma care hospitals would not only pay for itself but would also enhance the state financially.

According to Jones' story, the report predicts the state would receive an annual 18 percent return on its investment in enhanced emergency care. That's quite a return on investment -- especially in these days of economic woe.

The report went on to say it was imperative that trauma care spending be viewed as an investment rather than just an expense.

"The long-term economic benefits of effectively restoring the younger population to productivity are clear, by regaining years that potentially would have been lost, these individuals subsequently make great society contributions and provide the state with a worthwhile return on its initial investment."

The report assumes a statewide trauma care network would lower the accidental death rate by 14 percent. Added to that would be a significantly lower number of people disabled by accidents. Thus, if these people were alive and healthy thanks to adequate trauma care, they would be earning wages and paying taxes.

The report does provide some interesting fodder for lawmakers to mull. Even though the economic times are tough and lawmakers are going to have some difficulty balancing our state budget, we're glad to hear our lawmakers say trauma care remains a priority in Georgia.

We don't have adequate trauma care in many areas of our state -- particularly in South Georgia. People are losing their lives in accidents each week because they cannot reach a trauma care hospital during the critical first hour or so after a serious accident.

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