Dear Editor:
I’m writing to put in my two-cents worth on the debate over
CalStar’s services and charges.
Dear Editor:
I’m writing to put in my two-cents worth on the debate over CalStar’s services and charges.
About 10 years ago, my wife sustained an injury to her wrist. She was transported to the hospital in Gilroy by ambulance for a charge of a few hundred dollars. The local surgeon decided she needed a specialist, and arranged to have her flown to Stanford by CalStar to have the work done by a specialist. The charge for this flight was $7,000.
Once at Stanford, she waited several hours before the surgery was performed, more than enough time for her to have been transported by an ordinary ambulance. Obviously her injuries were not life threatening and thousands of dollars were wasted on the helicopter flight.
Since this incident I have closely followed all of the news reports that I can on CalStar’s activates. Over the years I have observed several reports where CalStar has flown patients with apparently minor injuries. The point is not whether CalStar’s service are important – they are – but whether this incredibly expensive service is being used appropriately. Flying patients by helicopter unnecessarily raises health care costs for everyone.
Dan Moyles, Gilroy
Submitted Friday, June 18 to ed****@****ic.com
