Trauma Center Fight Gets Referee

A former state Supreme Court Justice will referee the bitter fight over hospital trauma centers. The Florida Department of Health’s attorney told the House Health Innovation Subcommittee that starting next week, former justice Ken Bell will referee talks about the rules determining where and how many new specialized hospital trauma centers can operate, according to the Tampa Tribune. Hospitals with long-established trauma centers, including Tampa General Hospital, Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg and UF Health in Jacksonville have sued to keep new centers from opening in suburban cities. HCA Healthcare-owned hospitals in Manatee, Pasco and Marion Counties are among the trauma centers targeted in the lawsuit.