Skip already started one. He put in non-Dan as an option, but not problems y/n.Originally Posted by Squirrel Girl
Welcome to the Cave Diver's Forum.
Skip already started one. He put in non-Dan as an option, but not problems y/n.
Yes, they were very good to me at 02:00!
If you guys list the poll options I will be happy to put one up for everyone.
Jack
Somebody please list them in one reply. Then it will be easier to set up. thanks
re: Dan & other insurance options
Last edited by JE; 11-23-2013 at 07:28 PM. Reason: add on
As for hyperbaric chambers in Georgia, they are practically in every hospital except for the very smallest, believe it or not and their numbers are growing every day. A couple of you were accurate when you stated they are being used for wound care monday through friday during normal business hours. The down side as some of you mentioned is that emergent hyperbarics, such as treating dive injuries or CO poisoning, happens so seldom that its not worth paying staff, even on call, to be available. The vast majority of chambers are monoplace anyway, which can treat cases of DCS where the patient is stable but that presents its own unique set of problems. I know of one operation that has multi place chambers and has the contract to treat the Army Rangers from Fort Benning but that is a special arrangement. Hyperbarics is not new by any means but has seen tremendous growth in the past 5 to 6 years for wound care and a serious decline for emergent operations because of the law of diminishing returns. I don't know what the answer to all of this is except to have your own portable chamber and a DMT on site when you dive. In all reality getting a diver from Tallahassee to Augusta isn't that big a deal if you are treating DCS, it's about an hour and a half flight, but it is expensive. As far as kick backs to the flight service, as one of you suggested, you can forget that it's VERY illegal and doesn't happen. Personally I have DAN Insurance and it does pay for chamber rides and flight services.
Not to creat confusion but I have seen the exact opposite...chambers are shuting down. Here in Charlotte, NC. When I was a student in Respiratory care there were several chambers open. Now Presbyterian Hospital has their chamber in mothballs, CMC closed their's down as well as I beleve GMH did also. Just saying.
"...some night, in the chill darkness, someone will make a mistake: The sea will show him no mercy." John T. Cunningham
I understand, maybe it's just that it's in two different areas. There is a lot of marketing going on here in Atlanta mainly in the form of education for ED and primary care docs so that they will refer to wound care, which is appropriate. Some facilities have shut down while many more open their doors. I guess my point was that with all of the chambers opening up, none will do emergent treatments and that's unfortunate for us as divers. I was just in a hyperbarics class with some folks from Rock Hill and some other areas in NC and they indicated that chambers were opening up.
Lifeflightmedic...that is good news!
"...some night, in the chill darkness, someone will make a mistake: The sea will show him no mercy." John T. Cunningham
It is cost efficient for chamber use for wound care,because most chambers will accomodate several patients,and they can do several patients at one time-that is where they make money. In an after hours scenario,if you had CO inhalation emergency,then I have my doubts that person would be transported to another facility,if that facility has a chamber. Diving injuries are not getting the same regard. There are so many cases of Shands transporting people to Tallahassee with DCS,and this is not only after hours,but during hours. From a hospital bottom line stand point,one patient,with an HBO crew,especially after hours with overtime,they are losing money. Hospital economics isn't about what is best for the patient frequently,but best for the bottomline,and many times the patient loses out (as a dept head in a hospital at one time,this is something I saw frequently). What I do resent is that some hospitals keep themselves listed as a chamber facility with DAN to treat dive injuries,but they aren't,they are transporting them somewhere else. Good friend sat in Shands ER with a type 2 hit for a long time because DAN said go there it is the nearest chamber. They eventually transported him to Tallahassee,with 8 hours of elapsed time following the incident. May be before going to the hospital with a chamber,to guarantee treatment,I need to breathe some CO,and get a stage 4 pressure sore? I really wish people would share their DCS incidents and where they go,because the cave diving community needs to know where to get treatment in the abscence of DAN knowing. It is unfair to have an accident,follow the rules of calling DAN,and they send you to the nearest facility per their list,only to get transported somewhere else,and delaying treatment. I know of two hospitals that will actively recompress divers -Tallahassee and Albany,GA,and I am driving in those directions while calling DAN.
"Not all change is improvement...but all improvement is change" Donald Berwick
IWR.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." --JFK
Brrrr!
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