Wisconsin
Trauma Care System
History
Wisconsin's trauma system provides a comprehensive and organized
approach to provide all citizens and visitors in Wisconsin optimal care
from the initial recognition of the injury through return to the
community.
Traumatic injuries were found to be the leading cause of death and disability
among people between the ages of 1-34 in Wisconsin and across the
nation. Injury is the fourth leading cause of death overall and is
recognized as a major public health problem in Wisconsin. Those who do
survive a serious injury often face an uncertain future of life-long
disability which takes its toll on the victims, their families and
communities. The emotional and financial impact can be devastating.
Injuries may occur from motor vehicle collisions, falls, guns,
knives, farm accidents and acts of terrorism.
Wisconsin has responded to this increasing problem by developing and
implementing a Statewide Trauma Care System designed to integrate all
components of trauma care from injury detection/control, definitive care
and rehabilitation. The Statewide Trauma Care System is overseen
by a Department of Health Services appointed Statewide
Trauma Advisory Council (STAC).
The Statewide Trauma Care System Report
(PDF, 347KB)
is a
summary of how a trauma care system would function in Wisconsin and the
key components that are necessary to support such a trauma system. This
plan was submitted as a report to the Legislature for their
consideration. Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 118
was created.
Most recently (2010), the Statewide Trauma Advisory Council developed a
Wisconsin Trauma Strategic Plan
(PDF, 51KB), to further guide their activities and
goals.
Regionalization
The key concept to Wisconsin's Trauma Care System
is the establishment of Regional Trauma Advisory Councils
(RTACs). An
RTAC is an organized group of healthcare entities and other concerned
individuals who have an interest in organizing and improving trauma care
within a specified region of the State. An RTAC serves as the unifying
foundation to bring together all local, county, regional, state, federal
and other agencies, for the planning, education, training and prevention
efforts needed to assure the exemplary care needed pre, acute and post
injury for all visitors and citizens in Wisconsin.
The primary purpose of an RTAC is to design, implement and evaluate a
trauma system within a region that is data-based, confidential and
sensitive to the needs and limitations of each regional area. While each
RTAC retains autonomy within the state's trauma system, it must function
within the scope of Wisconsin's State Trauma Plan and the Trauma System
Administrative Rules.
Hospital
Trauma Classification/
Designation Process
A comprehensive trauma care system
includes ensuring the right patient is taken to the right hospital in
the right amount of time to give them the greatest chance of survival.
While the Trauma Classification/Designation process is voluntary, all
hospitals are encouraged to participate.
Click
here for more detailed information on the hospital trauma
classification/designation process and application materials.
Triage and
Transfer Guidelines
Identification of the major trauma patient is
essential to trauma system design because it describes the patient who
will benefit most from regionalized care. It also indirectly determines
the level and intensity of resources needed to provide definitive care.
Triage includes the process of sorting patients as to severity or injury
risk and assigning them to the most appropriate resource for definitive
care. Triage decisions are made at the scene during the initial
evaluation of the victim. Once made, decisions impacting destination
include severity of the injury sustained by the victim, time and
distance to a receiving facility, and level of hospital resources
available to care for the trauma victim. Triage criteria should provide
a basis for the establishment of protocols for patient identification,
delivery decisions, and appropriate response at the acute care
facilities for all trauma patients in an inclusive system.
The Triage
and Transport Guidelines (PDF, 55KB) were developed (in 2004) for
the Wisconsin Trauma System and shall serve as the minimal guidelines
for each EMS provider to incorporate into their operational plans.
Further clarification may be obtained by
contacting Connie Rigdon, State Trauma Coordinator at 608-266-0601 or your Regional
Trauma Advisory Council (RTAC) Liaison.
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Last Revised: May 18, 2009 |
