This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA.
Highland night shift nurses often find themselves asking why the hospital operates two CT scanners during the day, but only one at night. Highland recently achieved designation as a stroke center, meaning even more patients are coming through the doors at all hours needing emergency CT scans. Stroke nurses know that “time is brain,” and the faster the patient can get a CT scan, the more likely we can treat them for a stroke.
Highland also remains Oakland’s only Level One Trauma Center, receiving patients from car crashes, falls, and accidents 24 hours a day. These patients also need emergency CT scans to look for injuries that might require emergency intervention.
Meanwhile, sick patients who are already in the hospital often have changes in their condition that require emergency CT scans to diagnose.
No one wants to wait in a line for a CT scan when seconds count! If we have two scanners, why only staff one at night? It is obviously not better for the patients, but is a shameful way to provide less service than we are capable of. This is just another example of management prioritizing saving a few bucks over the lives of our patients.
Click here to read the article printed in the 11-12-25 Highland Healthcare Newsletter
