Rep. Lucas, Integris Officials Announce Plans for New Intensive Care Unit
HEADLINE: REP. LUCAS, INTEGRIS OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR NEW INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
BYLINE: States News Service
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
The office of Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., issued the following press release: U.S. Third District Rep. Frank Lucas and officials at Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in Yukon announced plans today for a new intensive care unit at the hospital.
"This will not only provide life-saving services that are closer to residents who need them in Canadian County and western Oklahoma, it will also alleviate the burden for metro Oklahoma City hospitals dealing with immediate-need patients," Lucas said. "It's a win-win for everyone involved, which means more patients get critical care quicker, when seconds count."
The new intensive care unit was formally announced at a press conference today at the hospital with Lucas, Integris officials, and Senator James Inhofe.
Last April, Lucas asked that federal funding be included in a health care spending bill. Along with Sen. Inhofe, Lucas secured $600,000 from the Health Facility Grant Program within the labor/health and human services annual congressional appropriation.
"Any physician will tell you that a critical component to saving the life of a seriously injured patient is the speed to which they receive intensive care," Lucas said. "They call it 'the golden hour,' and this ICU will definitely save lives by getting more patients under this care faster."
The new four-bed unit will serve expanded critical care needs for much of Western Oklahoma, including the crucial I-40 corridor from Oklahoma City to the Texas border. The ICU will cost about $1.4. million, and will add 3,000 square feet to the hospital.
About 10 percent of patients currently being treated in the Canadian Valley emergency room are in need of ICU-level treatment. They are now being treated and transferred to other health care facilities.
"Not only will this expansion give patients faster care, but when the facility is completed the hospital won't have to transport patients to another facility, which will reduce patient costs," Lucas said.