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Monday, Mar 12 2007 10:25 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Mar 12 2007 10:30 PM
With the current anesthesiology provider, KMC patients sometimes go 45 minutes before getting treated, a Kern Medical Center executive said Monday.
The hospital wants to switch providers. "We've kind of flown by the seat of our pants" with the current provider, said Dr. Maureen Martin, KMC's chief of surgery, at Monday's county Board of Supervisors meeting at KMC. The hospital wants to switch providers. "We've kind of flown by the seat of our pants" with the current provider, said Dr. Maureen Martin, KMC's chief of surgery, at Monday's county Board of Supervisors meeting at KMC. County supervisors approved a request by interim hospital CEO David Culberson to make Resource Anesthesiology Associates of California the anesthesia provider for the hospital starting June 11. The $17.1 million contract covers three years. Resource Anesthesiology is is owned by East Coast-based Somnia Anesthesia Services. Resource Anesthesiology replaces Sierra Pacific Anesthesia Medical Group, which has contracted with the county hospital since March 14, 2005.
The new group will provide at least two people in house for anesthesiology services at all times, versus the one position currently provided during odd hours, Martin said. That change will help cover the two areas with the greatest need: trauma and obstetrics, she said. The contract with Sierra Pacific expires on May 1, and the hospital hopes the switch to Resource Anesthesiology can take effect earlier than June. If not, another contractor would have to cover that gap, Martin said. That decision will be made this week, she said. Also at the meeting, supervisors asked for an update on any unbudgeted expenses that will be coming this fiscal year for the hospital. The issue came up after $287,000 was spent by the hospital on pain infusion pumps.
Click here to access the original article in The Bakersfield Californian