Section 118.06. Regional trauma advisory councils.

 

(1)   Purpose. The purpose of a regional trauma advisory council is to develop, implement, monitor and improve the regional trauma system.

(2)   Participation in RTAC activities. A regional trauma advisory council may include facilities or organizations located in a neighboring state that provide trauma care to Wisconsin residents.

(3)   Regional trauma advisory council responsibilities. A regional trauma advisory council shall do all of the following:

(a) Submit an application to the department for approval as an RTAC pursuant to s. DHS 118.04 (2) (b) 3.

(b)

1. Establish an executive council that has all of the following characteristics:

a. Reflects professional representation from out-of-hospital trauma care providers, trauma care facilities, education and injury prevention.

b. May have representation of an out-of-state hospital or ambulance service provider if the hospital or ambulance service provider regularly provides care for persons injured in Wisconsin.

c. Includes representation from both urban and rural areas.

d. Does not have more than 50 percent of its representation from any single organization. In this subdivision paragraph, "organization" means corporate affiliation, entity or ownership.

e. Is responsive to the input of its primary membership and participants.

f. Has officers who either live or work in Wisconsin.

g. Has representatives who serve only on that single executive council.

2. Submit the names and affiliations of council members to the department for review and approval pursuant to s. DHS 118.04 (2) (b) 4.

(c)

1. Select a coordinating facility. The coordinating facility shall be or do all of the following:

a. Work in collaboration with the department and the regional trauma advisory council to meet the needs required for the development, implementation, maintenance and evaluation of the regional trauma system.

b. Except as provided in subd. 1. c. and d. , be a Wisconsin-based ACS-verified level I or II trauma facility.

c. If a regional trauma advisory council area contains no ACS-verified level I or II trauma facility, the coordinating facility may be an entity that provides written commitment to the department that the entity will become an ACS-verified level I or II trauma facility within 3 years of that assurance.

d. If a regional trauma advisory council area contains no ACS-verified level I or II trauma facility, and no entity can provide the department the assurance under subd. 1. c. , the coordinating facility may be an entity that assures the department in writing that the entity will obtain the department's recognition as a level III trauma facility within the time frame specified in the RTAC application.

e. Have an ACS-verified level I or II hospital, or an equivalent hospital from an adjoining state, serving as its resource hospital if a level III hospital is serving as the coordinating facility.

f. If 2 facilities agree to serve as co-coordinating facilities, one of the facilities shall be an ACS-verified level I or II trauma facility.

2. Submit the name of the facility selected under subd. 1. to the department for review and approval pursuant to s. DHS 118.04 (2) (b) 4.

3. Notify the department and the RTAC executive council at least 30 days before relinquishing the title of coordinating facility if the coordinating facility is unable to fulfill the duties required by the regional trauma advisory council.

(d)

1. Select a Wisconsin fiscal agent and submit the name of the fiscal agent to the department for review and approval pursuant to s. DHS 118.04 (2) (b) 4.

2. Ensure that the fiscal agent holds and distributes funds only for the purpose of RTAC activities by not commingling RTAC funds with other funds or using RTAC funds for personal purposes.

3. Ensure that the fiscal agent notifies the department and the executive council at least 30 days before relinquishing the title of fiscal agent if the fiscal agent is unable to fulfill the duties required by the regional trauma advisory council.

(e) Select a resource hospital and submit the name of the hospital to the department for review and approval pursuant to s. DHS 118.04 (2) (b) 4.

(f) Transmit all pertinent materials to all regional trauma advisory council members in a timely manner.

(g) Develop a format for meetings, agendas and minutes, and provide the department with all RTAC meeting times, agendas and minutes.

(h) Designate a liaison with the department.

(i) Analyze local and regional trauma registry data collected under s. DHS 118.09 .

(j) Create a local and regional performance improvement process that is consistent with that specified in s. DHS 118.10 .

(k) Develop and implement injury prevention and education strategies based on performance improvement findings.

(L)

1. Develop and submit to the department by June 1, 2006, a regional trauma plan based on a needs assessment and with the structure specified by the department.

2. Update the regional trauma plan specified under subd. 1. and submit the plan to the department every 2 years beginning June 1, 2008 following the submittal of the of the initial plan on June 1, 2006.

3. Beginning June 1, 2005, submit a yearly progress report to the department, in the format specified by the department, that contains a description of the progress being made towards achieving the actions specified under the most recent regional trauma plan.

(m) Resolve conflicts concerning trauma care and injury prevention within the region through a process having the following characteristics:

1. Conflicts needing resolution by the RTAC shall be addressed by the executive council.

2. If the executive council is unable to resolve a contested issue, the executive council chair shall submit the issue to the department for resolution.

(n) Notify the department within 30 days of any changes in leadership, bylaw revisions or other substantive revisions to the RTAC policies or operations.

(o) Develop regional triage and transport protocols.

History: CR 04-055 : cr. Register December 2004 No. 588 , eff. 1-1-05.

Note

To obtain an application, contact the statewide trauma care coordinator by calling 608-266-0601 or by writing to Statewide Trauma Care System Coordinator, Bureau of Local Public Health Practice and Emergency Medical Services, Room 118, 1 West Wilson St., Madison, WI 53701, or by sending a fax to 608-261-6392. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Out-of-hospital trauma care providers include EMTs, first responders or air medical personnel. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 The Department believes that limiting primary service to the executive council of one RTAC will promote a representative's focus on and allegiance to that RTAC. Any person, however, may participate in the activities of more than one RTAC. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1