State officials announce OU trauma center will remain open for now

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Brad Henry and other officials say the University of Oklahoma Medical Center's Level One trauma center will remain open for six more months.<br><br>Henry, legislative

Monday, December 22nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Brad Henry and other officials say the University of Oklahoma Medical Center's Level One trauma center will remain open for six more months.

Henry, legislative leaders and health officials say the center will be kept open while they look for ways to develop a statewide trauma care system.

OU officials announced plans in November to downgrade the center on December 31st to an emergency room. Officials say the center has lost about $9-million in the past three years.

The center is the only Level One trauma center in the state and includes an around-the-clock surgical team.

The governor and the others didn't say how they may try to develop a statewide trauma care system, but hope to have a proposal within weeks.