Medical tents at WM Phoenix Open to keep patients out of hospitals
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — At the Waste Management Phoenix Open, doctors and firemen are busily working behind the scenes in medical tents. “We can keep them here on site, give them fluids, if necessary, get them out of the heat or this year out of the cold,” said Casey Solem, the medical director for Scottsdale Fire. Known as alternative care sites (ACS), it’s designed to help patients who may have had one too many drinks. “Scottsdale fire identifies patients that are intoxicated only with no other injuries, and then they are able to bring them to the tent where Mayo takes over medical responsibility,” said Dr. Shari Brand with Mayo Clinic.
Equipped with chairs, IVs and monitors, doctors and medics can see a number of patients who are in need of care. “We can have 10 patients in here, five males and five females. But because we cycle patients throughout the day the average visit is one to two hours, so we can get a lot more than 10 patients throughout the day,” Solem said.
The goal is to help keep these patients out of the hospital and avoid the hassle of having to transport them during the event. “What we found originally is that the hospitals were inundated early in the morning on the dates of the open. Anybody that had any alcohol-related issues, they were taken to the hospital. The problem was that the hospital had to run full tests, and it took time, resources, and money,” Brand said.
If you’re headed to the event, medics and doctors encourage others to be smart and drink responsibly. “If you’re going to partake in alcohol, just try to do it in moderation. Be aware of the heat. Be aware of the cold. Take care of yourself so you don’t overwhelm the health system,” Solem said.
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