Closed emergency room forces trauma patient to need helicopter transport

The Brief

A severely injured patient arrived at the closed Hunt Regional Quinlan Emergency Room on Monday evening, forcing first responders to dispatch a medical helicopter.

The Quinlan ER, and another in Commerce, were permanently shut down two weeks ago by the hospital system to save an estimated $15 million annually.

The closures have left residents in these rural communities concerned about safety and timely access to 24/7 emergency care.

QUINLAN, Texas - First responders in Hunt County, just northeast of Dallas, recently had to call for a medical helicopter after a patient with a traumatic injury showed up to an emergency room that had closed its doors at the end of September.

The hospital system says getting rid of two freestanding emergency rooms would save millions.

Trauma