Because Texas has the largest number of uninsured citizens of any state, we have a huge problem with uncompensated care provided in emergency departments and trauma centers.

These are large, rural areas, so how many trauma centers can you have in Idaho, realistically? But on the other hand, there are some changes that lawmakers could make that don't have a lot to do with being rural. A seat belt law could be enacted, and given those vast expanses of highways, that might be a good decision to make — especially since there aren't a lot of trauma centers in Idaho.

This report is a serious wake-up call to the nation. If the emergency medical system gets a C- on an average day, how can it ever be expected to provide expert, efficient care during a natural disaster or terrorist attack?

The state of emergency in this country is critical. If it were a patient, we'd be putting it in the ICU.

The state of emergency in this country is critical. If it were a patient, we'd be putting it in ICU.

These are large, rural areas, so how many trauma centers can you have in Idaho, realistically? But on the other hand, there are some changes that lawmakers could make that don't have a lot to do with being rural. A seat belt law could be enacted, and given those vast expanses of highways, that might be a good decision to make — especially since there aren't a lot of trauma centers in Idaho.