The closest Level III trauma center, Providence Toppenish Hospital, is about 22 minutes away. Other nearby Level III hospitals include Providence Yakima Medical Center and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. The three Tri-City hospitals share a Level III trauma center rating. Harborview Medical Center in Seattle is the only Level I trauma center in Washington. It handles patients from around the state with the most complex injuries.
Anytime staff goes out of the immediate area, it does have an impact.
It's a burden, he added, but not a major one. While the hospital is privately owned, the fire department collects taxes to help provide ambulance service. Patients already are charged a fee based on distance, time and whether they live in the department's service area, he said. Copyright 1998 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved.