Rep. Manweller to continue push for legislation assisting Quincy hospital after facility overwhelmed after weekend Gorge event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2015

CONTACT: Kurt Hammond, Senior Information Officer - (360) 786-7794

 Rep. Manweller to continue push for legislation assisting Quincy hospital after facility overwhelmed after weekend Gorge event

Rep. Matt Manweller is renewing his efforts to help the Quincy Medical Center handle the workload when the Gorge Amphitheater hosts concerts and events after the hospital was inundated with patients after the Paradiso music festival.

According to reports, the hospital saw 53 patients from the concert activities.  Of those, eight were admitted for further evaluation and treatment.  Many of the patients had potentially life-threatening conditions. To date, one fatality has been reported. The Medical Center, which normally staffs one nurse and one physician in the Emergency Department, had five nurses and two providers on duty, some working in excess of 18-24 hours.  Eight patients were transferred to Central Washington Hospital or Harborview Medical Center; of the eight, several were in critical condition.

"What happened this weekend was a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, we saw this coming. This is the very reason I introduced legislation this session - to help the hospital and local emergency management teams during events and concerts," said Manweller, R-Ellensburg. "Unfortunately, some politics got in the way. I will be working on this legislation again in 2016 so we can prevent additional tragedies like the ones we saw this weekend."

Manweller's House Bill 1009 would have given county commissioners the option of adding up to $1 on concert tickets, asking those who rely or utilize the hospital and emergency management services to chip in. It also takes the burden off of local taxpayers footing the bill.

The bill made it out of the House Finance Committee, but was never brought to the House floor for a vote.

The Paradiso music festival is a two-day event that drew over 27,000 music fans over the weekend.

For more information about Rep. Manweller, visit: www.representativemattmanweller.com.

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