One cab company's offices are directly downstairs.
When a Plainfield woman gives birth in the back seat of a cab, it's news (see story here).
But when the story includes the fact that the cab is from Metuchen, it may be even bigger news.
Why was a Metuchen cab trying to take the woman to Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, when she lives upstairs over one Plainfield cab company and directly across the street from the cab stand used by all of Plainfield's FIVE TAXI CAB companies?
Why not take a Plainfield cab?
I am told by someone following Solaris Health System's compliance with the terms of the Certificate of Need which allowed it to shut down Muhlenberg Hospital last summer that Solaris reimburses the designated cab company for transportation of delivering expectant mothers to Trinitas.
In the good old days, the woman would simply have hopped a cab downstairs and been at Muhlenberg in a matter of less than five minutes.
But Solaris has a better way, one that does not sacrifice any benefits to Plainfield residents who no longer can deliver at the local facility.
That better way is to call a designated transportation provider -- in this case, a Metuchen cab company -- and wait for them to arrive.
Unspoken in this story is how long it took for the cabbie to get from Metuchen to Plainfield. Let's say it was 30 minutes (the average time now listed in Solaris' reports on ambulance transportation from Muhlenberg to JFK).
In those thirty minutes, this woman could have been in the safe environment at Muhlenberg, with trained professionals on hand to assist in the birth.
Instead of waiting for a cab from Metuchen, whose driver then had to call 911, which then had to dispatch not only a cop but also the Plainfield Rescue Squad and a Mercy 6 unit to North Avenue to assist.
Not very cost effective by my lights.
And what if the birth had been fraught with difficulties?
Seems to me a good question for the recently-formed Citizens Advisory Group to take up is why Solaris should not designate one (or all) PLAINFIELD CAB COMPANIES to transport patients to Trinitas.
But then that's probably just too commonsensical.
- Courier: "Plainfield woman gives birth in cab"
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8 comments:
Bernice, I don't know, if the situation was THAT dire, which it obviously was, I would have taken any cab I could or call a friend ...I don't understand the mentality, "well, I'll just sit and wait for that free cab ride." Seriously, do you?
Luckily the mother,and baby are alright.I believe from what i have heard,and read.However,you do not have to be a medical expert to realize that with all the red tape,and time lost,that one or both could have died.
First comment/response i read is blame it on the patient.Obviously,no one is mentioning,if the patient did make it to Trinitas,there is no guarantee that she would have been attended to right away.Do not forget,that Elizabeth at one time had 3 hospitals,Elizabeth General,Alexian Brothers,and Saint Elizabeths/now Trinitas,so am sure that they are overburdened with admissions.
The question is:
Do patients know their cab is coming from anywhere but Plainfield? Unless we know all the details, we really don't know much.
Perhaps the mayor and Jerry Green can answer the questions posed by this birth.
In a lighter tone, this baby is a true Plainfielder, something that is no longer possible after the closing of the hospital. Maybe Plainfield can join the wave for home births, and Solaris can save money by just providing trained midwives.
"I don't understand the mentality, "well, I'll just sit and wait for that free cab ride." Seriously, do you?"
If they don't have a car (many don't) nor money to pay for cab fare (many don't) then the mentality is understood. Surely you've heard of the outrageous cab rates to JFK - one way! Imagine Trinitas!
I think Maria has a good point, 8:25 AM -- who says she even knew where the cab was coming from?
Perhaps she was just doing what she had been told to do?
Besides, there are going to be plenty more people Solaris will be shipping off to Trinitas. Wouldn't you think it was important for it to be a Plainfield cab so that no one had to even give it a thought?
And I like Maria's observation that the little boy is a 'true' Plainfielder, which his birth certificate will have to indicate -- and that will be a rarity now that Muhlenberg is closed and Plainfield babies will be listed as born in Elizabeth (if you're poor) and elsewhere (if you've got insurance and all the niceties it brings).
What's the big deal. Just because Plainfield once had a hospital? What about towns across the country that are miles away from a hospital? These people survive without crying they have to travel to a hospital. Get over it. The hospital is gone. Do what anyone else that does not live near a hospital. Make appropriate plans.
Bless you, 5:51 AM!
May all your emergencies be well-planned.
Well well well . . . that must be you Jerry Green . . . hiding behind Anonymous September 6, 2009 5:51AM.
Tsk tsk tsk . . .
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