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Hennepin Healthcare: Save the Busiest Trauma Center
18 Mar
Summary
- Hennepin Healthcare, the state's busiest trauma center, may close this year.
- Lawmakers are urging state legislators to pass a sales tax for its funding.
- The hospital has already cut five departments but maintains critical services.
Hennepin Healthcare, recognized as the state's busiest Level 1 trauma center, faces a potential closure this year if state legislators do not act swiftly. County officials are scheduled to present their urgent plea to lawmakers on Wednesday morning, advocating for the passage of a sales tax essential for the hospital's continued operation. This proposed tax, similar to one previously used to fund Target Field, requires state legislative approval, as the county lacks the authority to enact it independently.
Despite recent cutbacks, including the closure of five departments, Hennepin Healthcare remains committed to preserving its critical services. This includes maintaining its Level 1 trauma center, a life-saving hyperbaric chamber, and a renowned burn center. The potential closure has sent ripples of concern throughout the community, with former patients emphasizing the hospital's vital role in their recovery and survival. Officials from North Memorial Hospital are also expected to attend the presentation to outline the broader impact of a HCMC closure on regional healthcare.
Multiple leaders have stated that failure to pass the necessary legislation during the current legislative session would make the hospital's closure highly probable by the end of the year. The urgency is palpable as the county prepares to make its case, highlighting the profound consequences of losing such a critical healthcare resource.
