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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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DATE:
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August 21, 2006
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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September 12, 2006
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Supervisor Jerry Hill
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SUBJECT:
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San Francisco General Hospital Medical Helipad
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution to support the construction of a helipad for medical helicopter use at San Francisco General Hospital and encourage its completion and implementation in the shortest amount of time possible.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.
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Goal(s): Residents have access to healthcare and preventive care.
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BACKGROUND:
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San Mateo County does not have a Level I Trauma Center and relies on San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) and Stanford Medical Center to accept victims of major trauma incidents from our county. Since 1998, SFGH has served as the Level I Trauma Center for the northern portion of San Mateo County, with an average of 15 to 25 trauma patients transported each month from San Mateo County to SFGH for definitive trauma care, via ground transportation. Medical helicopter access has proved to be a vital resource in the San Mateo County Emergency Medical Services system with an average of four to six medical or trauma related air transports a month to Stanford Medical Center from throughout the entire county. Support for the SFGH Helipad project, which will be built largely by private funding committed by the SFGH Foundation, has been requested.
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DISCUSSION:
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Medical helicopter service is widely accepted as an industry standard in trauma care. San Mateo County works diligently to protect the public health of its residents and medical helicopter access to SFGH could help save the lives and help improve the standard of life for those injured in a traumatic accident, especially in the northern end of San Mateo County. Additionally, medical helicopters and hospital-based helipads are critical resources for large-scale disasters such as earthquakes, fires, explosions, transit crashes and terrorist attacks. Aeromedical access to SFGH has received the support of the San Mateo County Emergency Medical Services Director and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department. The completion and implementation of a medical helipad at San Francisco General Hospital would be a critical added value for our community.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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None.
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