Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon ranks 47th in the nation in a new report on the availability of emergency healthcare. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The American College of Emergency Physicians looked at how states deal with everything from injury prevention to disaster preparedness. Oregon received a ‘D’ grade.

The report found that 19 percent of adults here don’t have health insurance; that no formalized stroke and heart attack care system is in place; and that Oregon hasn’t been recognized by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program.

Doctor John Morehead, of OHSU, says the state needs to look into this issue.

John Morehead: “We have tremendous people who are well trained and motivated to provide excellent emergency care, working in a system that’s not working very well, that’s inadequately funded, and a reflection of an entire healthcare system that’s broken.”

It wasn’t all bad news, however. Oregon ranked first in the nation for injury prevention efforts.  That’s because a lot of Oregonians get vaccinated; they tend to use seatbelts and many don’t smoke.