Damn! Clay gets slippery when it gets wet!

"Redding police received a report about 9:26 a.m. that a man had fallen from a Sacramento River cliff earlier in the morning. The caller was not able to give an exact location, said Sgt. Mike Thomas."

First off, my prayers are for this man to make a speedy recovery.

Second, I hope this wasn't any sort of foul play. I'm not jumping to conclusions but it said they got a call saying he had fallen "earlier in the morning" and the caller wasn't able to "give an exact location". Just seems kinda sneeky to me. I hope not.

why was he taken to Mercy with Shasta Regional right there?

I think most trauma victims, if not all, are taken to Mercy.

I have often wondered who/what makes the decision as to what hospital the paramedics take you to. Maybe someone can give us an answer.

if your awake you can request which hospital

Shasta Regional is not a trauma Center and do not have any Neuro Surgeons who work there. If the patient had any head injuries he would have to be transfered to Mercy.

thank you for your answers...still seems funny that you'd pass a hospital on your way to a hospital in an emergency...you'd think they 'd stabilize him and call in a neuro surgeon or transfer him. i'd hate to think this, but maybe few trauma victims have insurance.

I could hear something else going on "on the river" and I am listening for details. I doubt its the same incident? Related ?

When a trauma victim meets certain triagae criteria, they automatically go to the regional trauma center (mercy). The reason for this is the level of surgical and diagnostic services available, not just available, but guaranteed available, with back up systems in place in case the main line serice is out of order ...(a "spare" CT scanner for the times when the main 2 blow a fuse, or what ever they do when they breat). Mercy pays trauma surgeons alot of $$ to make sure there is always one available, and a "spare" in case the first one is already in surgery....

Shasta Regional Medical Center is a full-service hospital, but not a Trauma Center. Mercy Medical Center is a Level-2 Trauma Center (Level-1 being the highest, the nearest being UCD Med. Center in Sacramento) and is the only Trauma Center in the region. The only difference between a Level-1 and Level-2 Trauma Center is the fact that, at a Level-1, all disciplines of potentially needed trauma specialists are at the hospital at all times, whereas at a Level-2 the various types of specialty trauma doctors must be paged out and respond to the Emergency Department. First responders, such as the Redding Fire Department and the Advanced Life Support providers with local ambulance companies call a "trauma alert" via dispatch radio (through SHASCOM) in order to activate the paging system for Mercy Medical Center with the intent being that the entire trauma team can be assembled in the Emergency Department when the patient/victim arrives. There is no process in place for Shasta Regional Medical Center to receive such critically injured trauma cases, therefore, in a case such as this, although the incident location was virtually within sight of SRMC, the patient/victim was properly delivered to the regional trauma center where the highest level of trauma care could give him the best chance of recovery. In cases such as full cardiac arrest (referred to as a "Code Blue"), the patient is transported to the closest hospital - either SRMC or Mercy, depending on the location from which the patient is being transported. In cases where the patient does not meet the terms of either a trauma alert or a code blue and is able to make his/her own decisions regarding medical care, first responders always ask which hospital they prefer to be taken to. Unless either SRMC or Mercy is on "full divert" meaning their Emergency Department is closed due to being at full capacity, the patient's request is granted and ambulance personnel transport them to the hospital of their choice. When it comes to serious burn injuries (a form of trauma alert), patients are usually first stabilized locally and then transferred as soon as possible to the closest Burn Center (located at UCD Med. Center in Sacramento).

thank you, very enlightning and makes sense...

I think I know where this cliff is. It's not fenced or anything, just a sign saying "No Trespassing." It's really cool to see once or twice, good view too, but it freaked me out being so close to such a large drop without some sort of safety net. I can't imagine falling down that far. It makes me shudder just thinking about it.

Wonderful information here.

One point not noted is the rapid response and securing of the victim. The initial report was 9:26 AM and the County guys were there less than an hour later at 10:24...

This isn't the first time that someone has inadvertently done a 'swan dive' off the bluffs. It's not the fall that gets you, it's the sudden stop at the end.

God help us all if its Mercy they take us to. Terrible nursing care.

If the care at SRMC doesn't get you, then the billing will. Case in point; Hydration treatment (glass of water) $28.00, Tylenol caplets(2 $12.50 or $6.25 each No joke, it was on my bill and once my insurance company found out what it was they had fits. They told me they will no longer except billing from SRMC.

The other night there was a vehicle crash on Old Oregon Trail, when engine 6 arrived on scene they called a trauma alert to Shascom, that was the first time I had heard that on the scanner and know I now exactly what it meant.

I was born at Mercy 36 years ago and I have always used Mercy for my medical needs, I have never had a problem with them.

Many hospitals raise the costs of procedures, pharmaceuticals, etc...because they have negotiated rates with each insurance company. They charge for example $16.00 for a Tylenol because the reimbursement is a contract that is negotiated with each insurance company, so they may receive only $2.00 back for that Tylenol. The difference then is written off by the hospital as a "contractual" because the reimbursement rate was negotiated with the insurance company. ALL hospitals do this. Even your doctor's office. For instance, the Medi-Cal reimbursement rate on an inpatient stay at MMCR is only 26% and right now with another 10% dedcution off of that until next spring when it's expected to go back up to 26%. This is why they over price many of these things. This is all negotiated with insurance companies with the hospital, which is why hospital business offices have adjudicators who adjudicate payments all day long. If a payment was overpaid by the insurance company as per their contract with the hospital then the hospital reimburses either the patient or the insurance company depending on who pays for the insurance.

My prayers to this man, God Bless.

That is NOT TRUE! I have ALWAYS received extremely considerate and qualified care at Mercy. I'm assuming you're an RN at SRCHC - right? My Nurses were exceptional both times, and also took fantastic care of my Grandmother when she was there. This patient is in exceptional hands.

No, not a nurse at all, just experienced enough to know good care and bad care and it has happened to me and others I know, so I will not go there. The care my family members have recieved at SRMC was outstanding. I dont know any nurses personally at SRMC or at Mercy.

i prefer the food at Mercy...

i5trucker,
It is always up to the patient where we transport them. Exceptions being major traumas usually go to mercy, unless the patient is awake and able to insist on Regional then it is still their choice. We always take those who are are unresponsive to the hospital nearest to the call we have received. however sometimes one or the other ER is so overloaded with patients that they go on diversion which means we can only take patients to the ER not on diversion, HOWEVER they will never turn you away while on diversion if you go by private vehicle.

I've never been to SRMC, but I have been to Mercy, three times. I have always had good nurses. They are caring, considerate, and competent. No complaints there by me either!

imagine what we did before hospitals?