By The Star Staff
Following the closure of the Cossma emergency room in Las Piedras, Hospital Association President Jaime Pla addressed the ongoing health crisis affecting various municipalities.
Despite previous agreements to keep other emergency centers operational, Pla made it clear that no agreement was reached to maintain Cossma’s operations at least until 7 p.m. This gap in service is unacceptable, especially when post-evening patient volume plummets, leading to significant financial challenges.
“This is a critical issue impacting numerous emergency rooms in specific areas. While daytime activity exists, the lack of post-sunset patient volume does not warrant keeping the facilities open,” Pla asserted in a radio interview. He specifically pointed out the emergency room managed by the municipality in Las Piedras, which faces a similar troubling situation with a minimal patient count.
Furthermore, Pla highlighted that patients are increasingly choosing to seek care at three emergency rooms located just 10 minutes away, exacerbating the problem.
It is imperative for the Department of Health and community stakeholders to take decisive action, and to establish a strategic plan to effectively structure health services in light of economic constraints and health service needs. “We need to make firm decisions about which emergency rooms remain open,” he declared.
Pla also raised a critical alarm about the consequences for patients facing serious emergencies. Time is of the essence, and lives depend on immediate access to appropriate hospital facilities, he said. “For individuals exhibiting stroke symptoms, there’s a three-hour window to reverse the condition. The only hospital currently equipped to handle such cases in Puerto Rico is Caguas de Menonita. It is crucial that patients do not waste valuable time at intermediate facilities that can delay necessary treatment,” he emphasized.
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