Area Level-One trauma centers fight for funding

HOUSTON

Officials from Ben Taub, Memorial Hermann and UTMB in Galveston are urging the state to continue funding critical care facilities in Texas. They say since 2004, the state has cut in half the money designated for trauma centers and it's having a major impact on patient care.

""The financing that comes from the state legislature to the trauma centers is extremely important. Without that funding, death rate will go up in Houston, in Texas and across the United States," said Memorial Hermann Trauma Center Surgeon Dr. John Holcomb.

The Houston-Galveston area has only three Level One trauma centers. In comparison, Boston has eight and Chicago has seven.