American College of Surgeons Consultation in 2008
After two years of study, the Indiana Trauma Task Force reached a consultation agreement with the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons, a non-biased, nationally-recognized organization. This consultation team would evaluate the resources, legislation, trauma care delivery, trauma registries/data analysis, performance improvement, interagency cooperation/communication, professional/community education, and injury prevention and control currently in Indiana. The trauma system consultation team would also provide knowledge and experience from other states to help Indiana develop a trauma system. This consultation required intensive advance preparation, and a four-day visit from the College. The consultation team included professionals from surgery, emergency medicine, trauma nursing and emergency medical services.
The ACS-COT site visit team conducted a trauma system assessment for the State of Indiana on December 14–17, 2008. Below are a few of their findings and the priority recommendations (12 of 86 total):
Priority Recommendations from ACS-COT Trauma System Consultation Team
1. Statutory Authority and Administrative Rules:
Amend PL 155-2006, trauma system law, to include establishment of a Governor-appointed state trauma advisory board (STAB) that is multidisciplinary to advise the Department of Health in developing, implementing and sustaining a comprehensive statewide trauma system.
2. System Leadership:
Develop an Office of Emergency Care within the Department of Health that includes both the trauma program and EMS.
3. Lead Agency and Human Resources:
Hire sufficient staff based on the recommendations identified in the trauma system plan.
4. Trauma System Plan:
Develop a plan for statewide trauma system implementation using the broad authority of the 2006 trauma system legislation.
5. Financing:
Develop a detailed budget proposal for support of the infrastructure of the state system within the trauma system plan.
6. Definitive Care:
Perform a needs assessment to determine the number and level of trauma hospitals needed within the state
7. Emergency Medical Services:
Recruit and hire a qualified State Trauma/EMS medical director who will provide clinical expertise, oversight, and leadership for the state's Trauma and EMS systems.
8. System Coordination and Patient Flow:
Develop, approve, and implement prehospital trauma triage guidelines as well as inter-facility transfer criteria.
9. Disaster Preparedness:
Involve the State Trauma/EMS medical director in statewide disaster planning initiatives.
10. System-wide Evaluation and Quality Assurance:
Create a performance improvement (PI) Subcommittee to develop a trauma system performance improvement plan.
Develop a PI process template as a resource tool for all trauma centers and participating hospitals.
Standardize a subset of trauma PI activities for each trauma center and participating hospital. Implement regional PI processes that feed into the statewide trauma PI processes.
11. Trauma Management Information Systems:
Amend or create a statute with specific language to protect the confidentiality and discoverability of the Trauma Registry and of trauma system performance improvement activities.
Create and implement a Trauma System Information Management Plan.
ACS-COT Full Report for Indiana:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/IndianaTSCFinalReport.pdf
ACS-COT Final Presentation for Indiana:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/ACSIndianaFinalPresentation.pdf
Indiana Pre-Review Questionnaire:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/PRQ_Indiana_final.pdf
Indiana Presentation for ACS:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/Indiana_Trauma_System_for_ACS_12-08.pdf
