The Columbia Chronicle November 15, 2010

Page 1

Columbia’s health center needs shot in the arm

xx PAGE 34

Students run for Blood Ball King and Queen Web-Exclusive Video The official news source of Columbia College Chicago

November 15, 2010

www.ColumbiaChronicle.com

Volume 46, Issue 11

City takes up trauma center crisis

trauma center. Defined as the highest degree of surgical care for trauma patients, Level 1—followed by Level 2 and 3—trauma centers are medically specialized and provide immediate care to seriously injured people.

If you look at the statistics and research, the faster you get to a trauma center the better.” -Tom Grawey

Brock Brake THE CHRONICLE

One of Chicago’s four trauma centers for adults, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 251 E. Huron St., provides 24-hour surgical care to seriously injured patients. Currently there are no adult trauma centers operating on Chicago’s South Side.

Resolution concerning lack of critical care on South Side urges leaders to come together by Darryl Holliday Assistant Metro Editor AFTER PUBLIC outcry from residents, Chi-

cago aldermen introduced a resolution on Nov. 3, that urges public health officials to address the lack of trauma care on Chicago’s South Side. The resolution, sponsored by Alderman Willie Cochran (20th Ward) and others, calls for the city’s Committee on Health to take public comment and

testimony from the Chicago Department of Public Health and other sources addressing the need for more comprehensive health care in the city. According to Tim Hadac, spokesman for the Department of Public Health, the department is supportive of whatever it takes to ensure appropriate levels of trauma care for all neighborhoods in the city. The Illinois Department of Health could not be reached, as of press time. “The objective of the meeting will be to try and find some way to achieve the goal—and that’s to see if you can get trauma centers in the hospitals,” said Alderman Ed Smith (28th Ward),

Synthetic THC causes concerns ‘Spice’ has effects that can land some users in emergency room by Jaclyn Howard Assistant Health & Fitness Editor WHETHER IT’S called K2 incense, spice or

“fake weed,” synthetic marijuana has been spotted in smoke shops across the country during the past year, and the drug’s popularity continues to grow. According to a September report by the U.S. Poison Control Centers, use of the drug resulted in 1,800 calls from emergency rooms nationwide in the past year looking for information on how to treat

Campus

» PG.7

Popular actor to share his story

the effects from use. It is made from a leafy, herbal plant with a chemical liquid sprayed onto it. When consumed, the product has a result similar to that produced by marijuana. “It is enough [of a concern] it is on the Poison Center’s radar screen,” said Jessica Wherman, communications manager of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. “We are concerned about the symptoms being considered as side effects.” Wherman said side effects reported include hallucinations, fast–racing heart beats, nausea and vomiting. Michael Wahl, medical director of the Illinois Poison Center, said one of the side

Health & Fitness

chairman of the Committee on Health. “Everybody would be talking about that. You try to bring people in from various hospitals to say what their problem is and what’s the barricade.” According to Smith, that barricade is likely money, or a lack thereof. The high costs of operating a trauma center, along with the typically high volume of patients, are largely responsible for the closing of trauma centers nationwide. The now defunct Michael Reese Hospital, which withdrew from the trauma network in 1990, was the last hospital to offer trauma care to the South Side, leaving residents without a

Of the four trauma centers for adults in the city, Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center and the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County—none are located south of 15th Street and east of Western Avenue. Columbia is well-covered by its close proximity to two trauma centers, both the John H. Stroger, Jr. hospital and Northwestern Memorial are less than a three mile drive away. However, several areas on the South Side, some of which experience a high volume of gang and gun violence, have no access to immediate Level 1 trauma care and victims are frequently transported by ambulance to trauma centers miles away; In some cases an extra 15–20 minutes of travel time may be required to reach a Level 1 trauma center. Some city residents say this was precisely the case when 18-year-old Damian Turner was fatally shot on Aug. 14 four blocks from the University of Chicago Medical Center, which ceased providing xx SEE TRAUMA, PG. 40

Brent Lewis THE CHRONICLE

K2 incense is one name for synthetic marijuana. Labels state it’s “not for human” consumption.

» PG. 14

Renegades face challenges

xx SEE K2, PG. 18

Arts & Culture

» PG. 26

A very Bowie Christmas

INDEX Campus 2 H&F 13 A&C 19 Commentary 34 Metro 37


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.