A. The State Department of Health shall recognize and certify a trauma transfer and referral center in each county and contiguous communities with populations in excess of three hundred thousand (300,000) persons for the purpose of directing ambulance patients to facilities with the clinical capacity and capability to appropriately care for the emergent medical needs of a patient.
B. The State Board of Health, giving consideration to the recommendations of the Trauma and Emergency Response Advisory Council created in Section 44 of this act, shall promulgate rules establishing minimum certification standards for such centers which shall include, but not be limited to, staff certification, data management and communications equipment, medical control and oversight, record keeping, quality improvement activities, and such other issues as the State Commissioner of Health deems appropriate.
C. Certified centers shall submit data as required by the Department for the purpose of trauma system continuous quality improvement activities. Such reports shall be confidential as provided in Section 1-2530.7 of this title.
D. The Board, giving consideration to the recommendations of the Trauma and Emergency Response Advisory Council created in Section 44 of this act, shall promulgate rules requiring emergency medical services providers to contact the appropriate regional trauma transfer and referral center while transporting injured patients into or within that region in order to ensure that patients are directed to the appropriate hospital based on the regional plan and the current capability and capacity of hospitals in the system.
E. As funding is available, the Department may reimburse operators of certified trauma transfer and referral centers for the operations of the centers on an annual basis.
Added by Laws 2004, c. 459, § 9, emerg. eff. June 4, 2004. Amended by Laws 2013, c. 229, § 72, eff. Nov. 1, 2013.