LaAltagracia.-The director of the Higüey Trauma Hospital, Dr. Luis Espinosa, highlighted that this center, built as part of the National Trauma Network, has managed to reduce referrals of polytraumatized patients from the province of La Altagracia and much of the Eastern region to hospitals in Santo Domingo to zero.

He explained that the center provides coverage for the entire Eastern region, offering support to the provinces of San Pedro de Macorís and Hato Mayor, as well as the towns of Verón and Miches. He recalled that, before its opening, La Altagracia was the second province that referred the most patients, mainly to the Darío Contreras and Ney Arias Lora hospitals.

He indicated that the hospital, of third national scope, has nine intensive care beds, 25 hospitalization beds, nine pre-surgical preparation beds and three operating rooms, in addition to modern diagnostic equipment, including a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonator, computed tomography and X-ray equipment.

“A multiple trauma patient who arrives at our hospital has a 98% chance of preserving his life thanks to the equipment, care protocols and highly qualified personnel,” he stated.

He stated that the center treats between 30 and 33 injured patients every day and highlighted that one of its main attributes is speed of care.

Espinosa pointed out that the high demand for services in this area was one of the main reasons for the construction of the hospital, due to the intense vehicular flow of the Coral highway and other important roads, such as the Macao-Bávaro and Hato Mayor-San Pedro de Macorís highways.

Likewise, he explained that, after the admission of a patient with trauma, during the first 24 hours the required osteosynthesis materials are managed; Between the next 24 and 48 hours, the surgery is performed and, generally, around the fourth day, the patient is discharged. He highlighted that this dynamic assistance allows for rapid recovery, reduces hospitalization time, favors bed rotation and guarantees a timely response to demand.

Doctor Luis Espinos recalled that, before the opening of the Higüey Trauma Hospital, patients from La Altagracia and other towns in the East had to be transported to Santo Domingo in journeys of two or three hours, a time that could compromise the life of a multiple-traumatized person.

He highlighted that today the center offers diagnostic studies and specialized care in the same location, which avoids referrals to other hospitals and significantly increases the chances of survival and recovery.

The specialist explained that the National Trauma Network maintains permanent communication between the country's trauma hospitals to facilitate the transfer of patients when a center reaches its response capacity.

The director reported that the hospital also provides care to tourists who visit Bávaro and Punta Cana, and noted that since its opening, 116 foreign visitors have undergone surgery.

Finally, he urged the population to prevent traffic accidents by always using a seat belt, securing children under six years of age in their child restraint seats and using certified protective helmets in the case of motorcyclists, who represent a significant proportion of the patients treated in trauma hospitals.