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Trauma System/Injury Prevention Program Home > Indiana's Trauma System > American College of Surgeons Consultation in 2008 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:

ACS-COT Final Presentation for Indiana:

Indiana Pre-Review Questionnaire:

Indiana Presentation for ACS: