News Briefs
UH Receives Trauma Center Designation
University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center has been recognized by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Medical Services, as a provisional adult Level III trauma center.
This designation ensures around-the-clock coverage for immediate assessment, resuscitation, emergency operations and stabilization for adult patients with severe injuries.
“UH Geauga Medical Center can now accept adult patients that would have previously traveled great distances for trauma care expertise,” said M. Steven Jones, president, UH Geauga Medical Center. “We can treat the majority of patients in and around Geauga County with injuries posing significant risk for loss of life, limb, or permanent disfigurement or disability.”
The committee on trauma of the American College of Surgeons completed a consultation visit to UH Geauga Medical Center in late 2012 and the hospital is now taking steps to fulfill recommendations to achieve final verification status, according to a hospital news release.
Savings Identified for Middlefield Village
Results of a state performance audit have identified more than $500,000 in savings for the Village of Middlefield, according to Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost’s office.
Middlefield Mayor Ben Garlich said Jan. 24 that, although he had initial doubts whether savings could be identified, he was pleased with both the results and the process used in the performance audit.
“It provided a necessary foundation to make some hard decisions,” Garlich said. “Auditors had to come in and work directly with our staff to find savings, and because our people were willing and the process was objective and non-intrusive, they did that in a way that built support.”
Among the recommendations in the report, the largest savings of $405,600 could be realized by contracting out the village’s safety services to the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Yost’s office said in a press release.
“Included in this figure is $166,600 that the village has already begun to save by shifting its dispatch center to the sheriff during the course of the audit,” the release added.
An additional $114,000 in annual savings could result from other recommendations in the report, including reducing the vehicle fleet and reducing staffing in the sewer plant and recreation department, the release stated.
A copy of the audit can be found online at http://www.ohioauditor.gov.
Thursday Is Dog License Deadline
The Geauga County Dog Warden’s Office will be open late Thursday from 6-9 p.m., the deadline for purchasing 2013 dog licenses.
Dog Warden Matt Granito told Geauga County Commissioners Tuesday almost 500 fewer pet owners have bought $10 dog licenses than last year.
“I hope these people have waited to the last minute to get a license,” Granito said.
Granito and volunteers have distributed about 3,000 door tags in various communities reminding pet owners of the need to purchase a license.
After Jan. 31 dogs licenses will cost $20, Granito said.
Dog owners also could be forced to pay a fine of up to $100, not including court costs, if their animal is impounded without a license, Granito said.
Dog owners with licenses would not charged the first time their lost pet is impounded while owners without a license are charged $70 for a first impound.
“It’s a kind of a get-out-of jail free card,” Granito said of the $10 dog licenses.
The dog warden’s office is at 12513 Merritt Road in Claridon Township.
