Time or Distance -- It Makes A Difference

Today was the final planning meeting for the first annual golf outing of the Housatonic Habitat for Humanity. The meeting finished at 1 p.m. and there were two choices: head back home and work on some board meeting preparations and committed writing projects or take the long way home on the Fatboy. The blue sky and 75 degree temperature made this an easy choice. The meeting was in Stony Hill, Connecticut on Route 6, just off of Interstate 84. I headed east on Route 6 and merged onto route 25 and then headed south to Bridgeport. According to Microsoft MapPoint, the 24 mile trip should take thirty-five minutes. That would be true if there were no trucks, traffic lights, construction, nor congestion. On a Friday afternoon or in bad weather, the trip can easily take double what the mapping programs suggest.

For a Friday afternoon motorcycle ride, it really doesn't matter how long it takes, but if you happen to be in an ambulance on the way from Danbury Hospital to the hospital in Bridgeport, the travel time can be a matter of life or death. The State of Connecticut regulates which hospital is able to perform which procedures. On the surface this appears to be a very political and financial process, as opposed to a quality of care process like most people expect. If you have a heart attack in the western part of Fairfield County, an ambulance will take you to Danbury hospital. The outstanding emergency department team would apply numerous techniques to bring you back to normal. An attending cardiologist would utilize some of the latest drugs known to be effective for certain heart conditions. However, if the treatments are not adequate and it is determined that you need angioplasty, you would then be put back in an ambulance to make the trip to Bridgeport. (read more)

Healthcare June 4, 2004 09:49 PM