Families today spend most of their life moving from state to state, city to city, searching for the next best thing to accommodate their increasing demands. Among these obligations, healthcare needs and locations are in the top three requirements. Analyzing the location of residence, determining the district of education and positioning of clinics and hospitals, deciding which facility meets all the requirements and the trauma level it caries. Most importantly, the comparable diagnostic imaging for each department the hospital displays; considering possible future health issues or injuries.

The average American doesn’t examine the multiple departments a particular hospital maintains unless they have a specific chronic illness or defect they need to treat. Depending on your location, rural versus city, the facility nearest you may only contain a tiny emergency clinic and outpatient care services. Traveling sixty to ninety miles to the nearest birthing center or heart hospital may not be an option when considering finances. Another contemplation should be the proper diagnostic imaging, especially when discussing diagnosing and treatment; without detailed information, how is the physician able to apply the correct “plan of action”.

In the United States alone, more than seven million people have had a hip or knee replacement. This is usually caused by blunt force trauma, accidental falls, obesity, weak muscle structure around the joints, or lack of knowledge of proper body mechanics. Orthopedic specialists prefer the correct diagnostic imaging scans because the details of the injury are very explicit and create less room for error. Unfortunately, an X-ray (electromagnetic waves) is unable to slice the body images and perform detail structure of blood vessels and tissue damage.

Pertaining to trauma center levels, there are five, one giving the absolute most available in resources/surgical and five providing the least. There are many hospitals around the globe that do not have a “level of trauma” in which case for major injuries/treatments you will be transferred to the closest available facility that is capable. Depending on which state you reside in there may only exist three levels and your research for proper care and resources might need to be extensive. A few questions needing to be asked are “does the hospital contain a helipad” and “do they provide their own ambulance services” along with “how does their diagnostic imaging compare with surrounding locations” and “what is the distance between facilities”; most importantly, how the answers affect your family needs.

When dealing with trauma centers, hospitals, and local clinics, accessible healthcare is a must. You want to know about the acute care facility, heart services, medical imaging center, and maternity clinic; if you’re expanding your family. Other important factors are the radiation treatment they provide, options in joint replacement and emergency surgery services for unpredictable situations. Open up your mind to the absolute impossible circumstances to protect your loved ones. Never assume everything is at your fingertips, always accept the joys life brings you and prepare for the worst case scenario.