Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 37

Q2 I Thursday, October 6, 2011 St. Petersburg Tlme PSC OPINION (Jj tampabny.comoplnlon From the front pace CHIEF continued from 1 Lieutenant elevated to interim police chief ranks from patrol to detective, and eventually supervisory roles over SWAT and police dog units. Guest column I Rao Musunuru, M.D. It's time for local trauma center in urn live mm: Ia the Streets 0 t4 "'(jr also is a time-sensitive condition, Just like a heart attack or stroke. The quicker you can get to a capable treatment facility, the more likely you are to survive.

In 198L when I started my cardiology private practice in Hudson, the 50-bed hospital did not even have an echocardiogram machine that I could use. I had to take out a loan and buy one, to make the right treatment decisions for heart patients. We used to send hundreds of patients to "Rimpa for heart catheterization and surgery. I used the same arguments about the need for local advanced cardiac 'care at OSES) care which benefited both hos-n pltals and patients. We saved lives close to home with comfort and peace to the families.

They did not need to travel distances to unknown places, dealing with unknown doctors and living in motels under most difficult cir-cumstances. a It is about time to treat trauma 2 like a heart attack or stroke, tak-8 ing the patient to the ing room, as soon as necessary, instead of waiting to load the1: patient into an ambulance or helicopter or even worse. There is no local state approved trauma center in Pasco, Her- nando, Citrus or Marion coun- 'j ties. Regional Medical Center 1 Bayonet Point in Hudson, is will-3 ing to take the lead to do the right thing once again, by investing resources (with USF affiliation) to create a high-quality trauma cen-, ter, that will meet rigorous gov-' ernment standards. The hospital will be required to treat all emergency serious trauma patients, irrespective of their ability to pay.

Please note that I am an rienced practicing physician Still, he hoped to have had more time to work alongside Harrington, 47. of Dade City jf. I 111 id i fst leo Times Prtmtunj Dim available with James A TJ -i LJ lO SPONSORED BY: "It Is shocking," Steffens said of the chief's departure. "I thought I would have a year and a half to work and learn from him and then see where things take me. It's a real challenge." City officials shared those bittersweet feelings Tuesday about Harrington's new Job.

"I really appreciate and like Jeff, but at the same time it's a great career move for him," City Manager John Schneiger said. "I'd really like to keep you," Mayor Bob Consalvo told the chief. Steffens also praised Harrington and thanked him for his guidance. "He's a warrior, a cop' cop," Steffens said. "I think the morale Is really pumping through this department" After the meeting, Harrington said he strongly recommended that Schneiger appoint Steffens as acting chief.

"He is going to do an excel-. lent job," Harrington said. Schneiger has not decided how to conduct the search for a new chief, but said for now, Steffens is an impressive fit "I was extremely impressed by Lt Steffens' credentials and I think he will do a great job." Gills, MD LaserInstitute love 800.282.9905 StLukesEye.com iS 03 Saint Pasco An Whkw ti il CATARACTS? Wednesdays Tampa St. Petersburg Bayonet Point Spring Hill As I look out through the window from my private medical office next to the emergency room, I see daily patients being brought in by ambulance and then taken away, by helicopter to Tampa or St Petersburg. Most of them are victims of trauma.

They do not know exactly where they are being taken, how long they may Musunuru survive or in what condition they may be in, if they do survive the transport I get very emotional and upset when I see the family members looking into the sky with tears in their eyes saying goodbye to their loved ones, as long as the helicopter is in sight I can see on their faces many questions, but no easy answers. Where do Ihey need to go from here? How do they get there? Whether their loved ones will still be alive when they get there? New place, new people, new doctors and new questions. I never envisioned myself in that helicopter, as a patient Like most other people, I used to think that I was invincible and nothing would ever happen to me. After my recent brush with death, I think differently. What if I was involved in a had accident on my way to the Hospital? Will there be enough time for me to survive while I'm being transported to a distant hospital in another county to get the neces-sarycare? Trauma is the leading cause of death ages of people 44 and younger.

Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of trauma-, related deaths and falls are the second-leading cause. Trauma i Your letters Nugent's criticism isn't constructive Right on cue, U.S. Rep. Richard Nugent posts his criticisms of Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Pasco County to promote the jobs plan.

Mr. Nugent laments, "Where on Earth are they going to get that money?" As usual, Mr. Nugent offers criticism and not one solution. Simply closing the corporate tax loopholes and eliminating the Bush-era tax breaks for the wealthiest 1 percent would provide a significant amount of that money. Leading economists have urged Congress to take such action.

But rather than stand up for the citizens of his district and do the right thing, Mr. Nugent chooses to hide behind special interests and his no-tax pledge toGroverNorquist Richard Magda, New Port Richey Focus on delivery, not flashy stamps The U.S. Postal Service thinks that by sticking photos of pop stars on its stamps, we will all Pasco Times DELIVERY Call to subscribe, report delivery problems, for billing inquiries, vacation hold or other customer service. For redelivery of paper call 6 a.m.-10 a.m. and Sun.7a.m.-11a.m.

Port RichoyW. Pa too (727)849-4338 Wettey Chapel Toll-Fr 1-800-333-7505 SWITCHBOARD Port RicheyW. Pasco (727)849-0044 Wesley Chapel (813)909-4600 Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired (727)869-6205 ITS evaluations Dr, George Giannsbpoulos, M.D. Board Certified neurosurgeon Has performed more than 7,000 spinal operations. Most patients J0) are treated 'r-non-sorgiiallf.

jr A 'i 111 111 "xmwj" m-- "''iM Dr. Giannakopoulos Proudly Presents: A Comprehensive, Conservative Approach to Spinal Care SPINAL; STENOSIS Conservative Options Surgical Options Physical Therapy Minimally Invasive Interventional Pain Rx. Microscopic Surgery Spinal Fusion that time and I faced the same objections, opposition and court appeals then that the proposed trauma center is now. People said we were in the boon docks, did not have expertise, did not have the volume of patients, didn't not need one, wouldn't make enough money, wouldn't maintain quality, would hurt other doctors and hospitals and would destroy tertiary referral centers. Guess what? We prevailed with the heart center and we proved them all wrong.

We became one of the top 50 cardiac centers in the country (U.S. News World Report) within 10 years after we started a high-quality program. We didnot hurt any doctors or Hospitals. It was a win-win situation. It actually promoted overall quality of medical care for all other specialties at our hospital, We attracted highly qualified physicians in many specialties from all over the country.

The hospital grew more than five times its original size and created lots of jobs. All other competing hospitals rose to the occasion and did their bes to become providers of the best possible Share your opinions You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our website at tampabay.comletters, or by faxing it to (727) 869-6233, or by mailing it Pasco Richey, FL 34668, You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. line up to use its red, white and blue ail-American mailboxes. Here's my suggestion: Instead of Madonna, use photos of Johnny Fry and the best of his successors.

Fry, then 20, set off on his bay mare in April 1860 from St. Joseph, on the first leg of the first westbound transconti- nental Pony Express rida The 49 letters, several newspapers and telegrams he carried in a special saddle would arrive 10 calendar days later in Sacramento, then at circuitous distance of nearly 2,000 miles. That meant riders covered roughly 200 miles Port Richey Office: 11321 U.S. 19 Port Richey, FL 34668 NEWS W. Pasco Newt (727) 869-6238 Wesley Chapel Bureau (813)909-4606 Weddings (800) 333-7505 ext 8735 Port Richey FAX (727)869-6233 Wesley Chapel FAX (813) 909-4611 EMAIL THE PASCO TIMES pascosptimes.com 18 tampabay.com Monrntf fh Mormsfjftrjn and rtw Triimptsttntru in The job are wide To place an a concerned private citizen.

I do not work for HCA and never did. a lie umy ui uncicai, 11 one can call it that is my compel ling desire to reduce death and disability. It is about time for the com' munity and the government agencies to support and appre ciate that time is of the essence in trauma care. Someday, it may make all the difference between11 life and death for you or your1 loved one. Dr.

Rao Musunuru, a cardiologist, has been serving residents of Pasco and Hernando counties since 1981. 1 The American Heart Association Ji named him national physician of the year in 2005. if gototampabay.comlettors per day. Compare that to the Postal Service taking 10 calendar days in September 2011 to deliver our Ballantrae community's newsletter from a Tampa mail center to our 969 homes inn Land O'Lakes, a distance of hardly 20 miles. That's progress! of 2 miles a day.

That level of service helpsj explain why the Postal Service saw a decline of 500 million in the number of pieces of mail it handled in the first quarter of. this year vs. 2010, while its costs'1 still ballooned by $100 million over the same period, reports postalnews.com. Americans might support the Postal Service if it spent its time; planning the efficient deliv-i ery of mail, rather than con-i spiring to offer us Bruce Springsteen stamps in hopes we are so incredibly stupid that we won't notice its poor service. ii Its stamps should honoryoung Johnny and today's employees who in fact do their jobs well, work to make the system more efficient and simply ensure our mail is delivered in a timely fash-ioa I'm not certain how Oprah's visage advances that goal.

Jim Flateau, Land O'Lakes Wesley Chapel Office: 26240 Golden Maple Loop Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 STAFF Bill Stevens North Suncoam editot Bridget Hell Gnmwt CKyedltor C.T.Bowen Linda Raab JlmLThompson Editor of editorial! North Suncoast marketing manager Regional circulation mBnauar North Suncoast Pasco advertising manager LubySdoff ADVERTISING amM ma Wesisy Chapel (B13) 909-4603 (813)909-4603 Port Richay (727)869-6272 (727)869-6219 Internal (727)892-2237 Obituaries (800)333-7505 ext 8518 Soine Center ofExcellence 111111 jxl i When Spine Surgery Becomes Jecessary Choose a NEUROSURGEON 1 1 425 U.S. Hwy 1 9 Port Richey 2433 Country Place Blvd. Trinity (on SR 54) 11341 Cortex Blvd. Brooksville 727-861-2332 1 Accepting Medicaid Mail Insurance Hani Jf' Fasadl a tampabay.com find-a-doctor Visit tampabay.comfind-a-doctor, powered by the St. Petersburg Times and tampabay.com, and find Tampa's newest online directory of local physicians.

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