OVERVIEW OF WISCONSIN TRAUMA SYSTEM
Wisconsin's Trauma Care System is located in the Bureau of Communicable Disease and Emergency Response (BCDER) in the Division of Public Health, Department of Health Services. Chapter 118 (PDF, 65 KB) provides the authority for the Department of Health Services to develop and implement a statewide trauma care system. The departmental lead for the program is the State Trauma Coordinator.
In July of 2009, the Department of Health Services (DHS) restructured several program areas in an effort to improve the coordination and communication across program areas with common interests or populations. Placement of these program areas within the same bureau facilitates integrated grant funding and planning. It is designed to promote synergy with program integration and collaboration related to the daily management of injured patients, disaster, mass casualty, and surge capacity planning.
As a result of the reorganization, the Trauma Care System, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) and Public and Hospital Preparedness programs were strategically located within the Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Public Health (DPH), in the Bureau of Communicable Disease and Emergency Response (BCDER).
A Regional Trauma Advisory Council 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. It 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. 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.
In July of 2009, the Department of Health Services (DHS) restructured several program areas in an effort to improve the coordination and communication across program areas with common interests or populations. Placement of these program areas within the same bureau facilitates integrated grant funding and planning. It is designed to promote synergy with program integration and collaboration related to the daily management of injured patients, disaster, mass casualty, and surge capacity planning.
As a result of the reorganization, the Trauma Care System, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) and Public and Hospital Preparedness programs were strategically located within the Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Public Health (DPH), in the Bureau of Communicable Disease and Emergency Response (BCDER).
A Regional Trauma Advisory Council 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. It 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. 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.
The purpose of a Regional Trauma Advisory Council is to develop, implement, monitor and improve the regional trauma system. The functions and responsibility of the RTAC are delineated in DHS 118.06. RTAC programming efforts are funded through state tax dollars (GPR) by the State Trauma Program through Appropriation 101. This document also serves as Exhibit I to the 2016-2017 RTAC Contract.
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NEWRTAC MISSION STATEMENT
The North East Wisconsin RTAC is dedicated to designing, implementing, and evaluating a regional trauma system that is data-based, confidential, and sensitive to the needs, limitations, and resources of this area. Our focus is on injury prevention, reducing the severity of injuries, and decreasing the number of deaths. Our objective is to optimize the quality of care and outcomes for all trauma patients. The patient is the focus of this organization. We also believe that education of trauma providers on all levels is essential
The North East Wisconsin RTAC is dedicated to designing, implementing, and evaluating a regional trauma system that is data-based, confidential, and sensitive to the needs, limitations, and resources of this area. Our focus is on injury prevention, reducing the severity of injuries, and decreasing the number of deaths. Our objective is to optimize the quality of care and outcomes for all trauma patients. The patient is the focus of this organization. We also believe that education of trauma providers on all levels is essential
SYSTEM ACCESS
Suggestions for initial Objectives of System Access Component:
WEAKNESSES: First responder system; Cost of programs; Funding Source
OPPORTUNITIES: NEW HERC, Grants
THREATHS: Funding-State/Federal; Aging workforce; Volunteerism
Suggestions for initial Objectives of System Access Component:
- Identify all EMS and First Responders in each county
- Identify what areas each EMS and First Responder agency provides services for
- Identify mutual aid agreement that EMS may have with other areas
- Identify backup or emergency systems
- Consider public education regarding resources and accessing help
WEAKNESSES: First responder system; Cost of programs; Funding Source
OPPORTUNITIES: NEW HERC, Grants
THREATHS: Funding-State/Federal; Aging workforce; Volunteerism
COMMUNICATION
Suggestions for initial Objectives of the Communications Component:
WEAKNESS: Radio changes; Hospital/EMS communication (follow-up, WARDS)
OPPORTUNITIES: Equipment become uniform; EMR/Pt. tracking; Dispatch EMD; after case follow-up (HIPAA)
THREATHS: Radio changes; equipment funding
Suggestions for initial Objectives of the Communications Component:
- Review dispatch procedures, dispatch training, response time and communication devices used in each county
- List the communication devices, operating frequencies, and the effective range of each device used by EMS services and facilities
- List how two-way communication occurs between each EMS service and each receiving facility in the region
- List all EMS, Aeromedical and First Responder services’ frequencies, helicopter transport services and hospitals within the RTAC
- Identify dispatch call priority policies
WEAKNESS: Radio changes; Hospital/EMS communication (follow-up, WARDS)
OPPORTUNITIES: Equipment become uniform; EMR/Pt. tracking; Dispatch EMD; after case follow-up (HIPAA)
THREATHS: Radio changes; equipment funding
MEDICAL OVERSIGHT
Suggestions for initial objectives of the Medical oversight Component:
Suggestions for initial objectives of the Medical oversight Component:
- Identify all EMS Medical Directors in the region with addresses, phone numbers and the agencies they provide services for in the RTAC
- Review and/or develop regional protocols in use throughout the region
- Review and/or develop regional protocols for alerting and activating helicopters in the region.
DATA/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
Suggestions for initial objectives of the PI Component;
WEAKNESS: HIPAA; Follow up contacts; Access to data; quality of data
OPPORTUNITIES: After care follow up; RTAC coordinator requesting access to WARDS and State Registry; EMS office with Chuck; RTAC chart reviews
THREATHS: Turnover of the trauma Registers
Suggestions for initial objectives of the PI Component;
- Determine process for reviewing data filters and specific occurrences as they arise (peer review)- have clearly stated goals and objectives
- Develop feedback loop to all regional stakeholders
- Improve communication, education, and quality of care for all trauma patients
- Improve quality of care for the trauma patients in the RTAC
WEAKNESS: HIPAA; Follow up contacts; Access to data; quality of data
OPPORTUNITIES: After care follow up; RTAC coordinator requesting access to WARDS and State Registry; EMS office with Chuck; RTAC chart reviews
THREATHS: Turnover of the trauma Registers
EDUCATION
Suggestions for initial objectives of the Education Component;
WEAKNESS: Funding source
OPPORTUNITIES: Agencies that do not participate.
THREATHS: none
Suggestions for initial objectives of the Education Component;
- Determine educational offerings to pre-hospital agencies and hospitals for the year
- Develop a tool to evaluate effectiveness of educational offerings
- Explore options for lay public educational offerings regarding the trauma system
WEAKNESS: Funding source
OPPORTUNITIES: Agencies that do not participate.
THREATHS: none
INJURY PREVENTIONSuggestions for initial Objectives of the Injury Prevention Component:
STRENGTHS: ADRC (Brown County); Safe Kids (Car seat, Adolescent program)
WEAKNESS: ADRC communication between counties; Minimal involvement from hospitals in the Safe Kids program
OPPORTUNITIES: ADRC other counties involvement
THREATHS: Funding Source
- Determine Injury Prevention programs within the RTAC for the year
- Address the burden of falls in the region.
- Offer Stepping On Course and closely collaborate with the EMS Providers within the county
- Develop a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of Injury Prevention offerings
- Stepping On is an evidence based course so it has been proven to be effective
- In terms of evaluating the effectiveness of program and collaboration with EMS Providers and education, this will be done using data collection through DHS as well as regional trauma registry.
STRENGTHS: ADRC (Brown County); Safe Kids (Car seat, Adolescent program)
WEAKNESS: ADRC communication between counties; Minimal involvement from hospitals in the Safe Kids program
OPPORTUNITIES: ADRC other counties involvement
THREATHS: Funding Source
2016-2017 Statewide RTAC Objectives/Strategies
The purpose of a Regional Trauma Advisory Council is to develop, implement, monitor and improve the regional trauma system. The functions and responsibility of the RTAC are delineated in DHS 118.06. RTAC programming efforts are funded through state tax dollars (GPR) by the State Trauma Program through Appropriation 101. This document also serves as Exhibit I to the 2016-2017 RTAC Contract.
Objective/Strategy Supporting Documentation Measure(s) of Success Contract Completion
The purpose of a Regional Trauma Advisory Council is to develop, implement, monitor and improve the regional trauma system. The functions and responsibility of the RTAC are delineated in DHS 118.06. RTAC programming efforts are funded through state tax dollars (GPR) by the State Trauma Program through Appropriation 101. This document also serves as Exhibit I to the 2016-2017 RTAC Contract.
Objective/Strategy Supporting Documentation Measure(s) of Success Contract Completion
1. Maintain RTAC infrastructure in a manner that supports participation by all representative members and is consistent with DHS 118.06.
This objective is intended to demonstrate compliance with the Administrative Rule for the Trauma Care System related to the structure of the RTAC.
RTAC minutes provide the supporting documentation of the presence of an Executive Council, regular meetings (a minimum of 4 per fiscal year/contract) and that the membership is consistent with DHS 118.06. Target for contract completion is 100% compliance. |
2. RTAC reviews regional trauma registry data collected under DHS 118.09.
This objective is intended to demonstrate the intent for compliance with the Administrative Rules for the Trauma Care System found in DHS 118.06 and 118.10.
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3. RTAC has a functional Performance Improvement Program.
This objective is intended to demonstrate the effort to meet the intent for compliance with the Administrative Rules for the Trauma Care System found in DHS 118.06 and 118.10. The objective is to work through the PI process on a trauma related issue/concern and working towards loop closure.
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4. Develop and Revise Regional Trauma Plan
This objective is intended to demonstrate compliance with the Administrative Rule for the Trauma Care System DHS 118.06 (3)(L)2.
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5. RTAC maintains/supports injury prevention related education and training in the region (may include hospitals and other organizations).
This objective is intended to demonstrate compliance with the Administrative Rule for the Trauma Care System DHS 118.06 (3)(k).
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6. RTAC participates in the regional Healthcare Coalition RTAC and HCC minutes provide documentation of RTAC participation in HCC activities.
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