Proposition 480 supports our level one trauma and first responders: We need to support the level one trauma center and the Arizona Burn Center at MIHS which treats people with severe life threatening injuries and burns including many of our fire and police first responders.
Proposition 480 expands help for the seriously mentally ill: Services for the seriously mentally ill are important for our community and should be expanded to ensure accessible and effective mental health and substance abuse services. The bond will also help create the framework we need to improve early intervention and reduce costly duplication of services for our community’s most vulnerable mental and behavioral health populations.
Proposition 480 “right sizes” the Maricopa Medical Center: Modern medicine has made significant advancements in technology and patient treatment over the past 40 years which have reduced hospital stays and improved recovery times. The replacement for the Maricopa Medical Center would have fewer beds and a greater focus on the clinic model to best serve its mission and offer modern, cost effective medical care.
Proposition 480 supports our only public teaching hospital: We have a critical shortage of doctors, nurses, and medical professionals in Arizona. Maricopa Medical Center is the only public teaching hospital and it needs to keep up with out region’s demand. It trains more than 400 doctors each year; of those at least 60 percent remain in Arizona and Maricopa County when they graduate.
Proposition 480 is the fiscally responsible solution: It costs more to maintain than it would cost to build a new facility. The current Maricopa Medical Center is constantly in need of expensive repairs. It was built in the 1960’s with a design based in the 1950’s. The cannot facility and the health care clinics cannot work efficiently or effectively to keep up with innovations.