The Florida Senate

395.4015  State regional trauma planning; trauma regions.--

(1)  The department shall establish a state trauma system plan. As part of the state trauma system plan, the department shall establish trauma regions which cover all geographical areas of the state. These regions may serve as the basis for the development of department-approved local or regional trauma plans. The department shall base its definition of the regions upon:

(a)  Geographical considerations so as to ensure rapid access to trauma care by patients;

(b)  Historical patterns of patient referral and transfer in an area;

(c)  Inventories of available trauma care resources;

(d)  Predicted population growth characteristics;

(e)  Transportation capabilities, including ground and air transport;

(f)  Medically appropriate ground and air travel times; and

(g)  Other appropriate criteria.

(2)  The department shall develop trauma systems plans for the department-defined trauma regions which include at a minimum the following components:

(a)  An assessment of current and future trauma care needs of the population, based upon incidence rates and acuity indicators developed by the department, as well as other relevant characteristics of the region.

(b)  The organizational structure of the regional trauma system, including the identification of local trauma agency service areas within the region.

(c)  Prehospital care management guidelines for triage and transportation of trauma cases.

(d)  Flow patterns of trauma cases and transportation system design and resources, including air transportation services, provision for interfacility trauma transfer, and the prehospital transportation of trauma victims. The department shall plan for the development of a system of transportation of trauma alert victims to trauma centers where the distance or time to a trauma center or transportation resources diminish access by trauma alert victims.

(e)  The current and projected number, acuity level, and geographic location of trauma cases expected so as to assure that the assessed current and future trauma care needs of the population are adequately met and that state-sponsored trauma centers will maintain the volume of cases sufficient to provide quality care to trauma cases referred to them.

(f)  The availability of qualified health professionals, including physicians and surgeons, capable of staffing trauma centers to the level of current and future assessed needs.

(g)  Data collection regarding system operation and patient outcome, as well as the number, type, and generalized locations of state-sponsored trauma centers needed to meet the needs of the population.

(h)  Periodic performance evaluation of the trauma system and its components.

(i)  The type and extent of air transport services available and needed in each region.

(j)  Public information and education about the trauma system.

(k)  Emergency medical services communication system usage and dispatching.

(l)  The coordination and integration between the trauma centers and other health care facilities which may provide services to trauma victims.

(m)  Medical control and accountability.

(n)  Quality management and system evaluation.

(3)  The department shall consider the advice and recommendations of any affected local or regional trauma agency in developing the state trauma systems plan. The department may, in lieu of specific regional components of its own plan, accept components developed by local or regional trauma agencies.

(4)  The department shall use the state trauma system plan as the basis for establishing a statewide inclusive trauma system.

History.--s. 5, ch. 87-399; s. 2, ch. 88-186; s. 1, ch. 88-303; s. 5, ch. 89-275; ss. 36, 98, ch. 92-289; s. 3, ch. 2000-189.

Note.--Former s. 395.032.