Emergency Medicine Report Card: KY Gets D+

The American College of Emergency Physicians has released its annual report card on the state of the nation’s emergency medicine.  And Kentucky scored a D+.  That’s in part because of the state’s record on public health and injury prevention.  Norton Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steve Hester says Kentucky could make simple improvements there.“Public health and injury prevention was one this state has a great opportunity in, even as it relates to what I would consider simple things, seat belt-wearing, and trying to decrease the number of fatalities and injuries as it relates to traffic accidents," says Hester.The report also cited Kentucky’s low Medicaid reimbursement rates.  And that makes it harder to attract emergency room specialists.  The state scored higher, however, on its preparedness for a wide-scale emergency.