KRS 211.494: Statewide trauma care program -- Goals -- Advisory committee --

Components of trauma care system -- Coordination of activities --

Confidentiality of data -- Reports -- Administrative regulations.

(1) A comprehensive statewide trauma care program shall be established within

the Department for Public Health. The statewide trauma care program shall

consist of, at a minimum, a statewide trauma care director and a state trauma

registrar funded through available federal funds or, to the extent that funds are

available, by the trauma care system fund established in KRS 211.496. The

department may contract with outside entities to perform these functions.

(2) The statewide trauma care system shall address, at a minimum, the following

goals:

(a) To reduce or prevent death and disability from trauma without regard to

the patient's insurance coverage or ability to pay for services;

(b) To provide optimal care for trauma victims by utilization of best practices

protocols and guidelines;

(c) To minimize the economic impact of lost wages and productivity for

trauma patients; and

(d) To contain costs of trauma care.

(3) (a) The Department for Public Health shall establish an advisory committee

to assist in the development, implementation, and continuation of its

duties.

(b) The advisory committee shall consist of eighteen (18) members to be

appointed by the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services

and shall be composed of representatives from the following agencies

and organizations:

1. The Department for Public Health;

2. The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure;

3. The Kentucky Board of Nursing;

4. The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services;

5. The Kentucky Medical Association;

6. The Kentucky Hospital Association;

7. The Kentucky Committee on Trauma of the American College of

Surgeons;

8. One (1) representative from each verified Level I trauma center;

9. One (1) hospital representative from a Level II verified trauma

center, one (1) hospital representative from a Level III verified

trauma center, and one (1) hospital representative from a Level IV

verified trauma center. The Kentucky Hospital Association shall

submit recommendations to the secretary for each of the three (3)

members appointed under this subdivision;

10. The Kentucky Chapter of the American College of Emergency

Physicians;

11. The Kentucky Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association;

12. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet;

13. Two (2) members at large, one (1) of whom shall be a health care

consumer;

14. One (1) representative with extensive experience in injury

prevention programs; and

15. One (1) representative with pediatric trauma experience.

(c) Members of the advisory committee shall serve for a period of four (4)

years and shall serve until a successor is appointed, except that initial

terms shall be staggered and one-third (1/3) of the members shall be

appointed to four (4) year terms, one-third (1/3) of the members shall be

appointed to three (3) year terms, and one-third (1/3) of the members

shall be appointed for two (2) year terms.

(d) The advisory committee shall meet at least on a quarterly basis. The

committee shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary from among its

members and adopt rules of governance at the first meeting in each fiscal

year. The first meeting of the advisory committee shall occur before

September 30, 2008.

(e) Appointed members shall serve without compensation but may receive

reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses relating to the duties

of the advisory committee in accordance with state regulations relating to

travel reimbursement.

(f) Expenses associated with the advisory committee shall be paid by the

trauma care system fund established in KRS 211.496, to the extent funds

are available.

(4) The statewide trauma care director and the advisory committee shall develop

and implement a statewide trauma care system, integrated with the public

health system for injury prevention, that recognizes levels of care for the

appropriate delivery of a full range of medical services to all trauma patients in

the Commonwealth. The statewide trauma care system shall include but is not

limited to:

(a) Development and implementation of trauma prevention and education

initiatives;

(b) Facilitation of appropriate education and continuing education about

trauma care and procedures for physicians, nurses, and emergency

medical services personnel;

(c) Development and statewide distribution of guidelines and protocols for

the care and treatment of trauma victims that include the needs of special

populations and are fully integrated with all available resources, including

but not limited to emergency medical services, physicians, nurses, and

hospitals;

(d) Voluntary hospital trauma center verification through the American

College of Surgeons or the Department for Public Health;

(e) Local and regional triage and transport protocols for use by the Kentucky

Board of Emergency Medical Services, emergency medical services

providers, and emergency rooms; and

(f) Continuing quality assurance and peer review programs.

(5) The Department for Public Health or the statewide trauma care director and the

advisory committee established in this section shall coordinate activities related

to the care of trauma patients with other state agencies and boards that are

directly or indirectly involved with care of injured persons. Upon request of the

Department for Public Health or the statewide trauma care director, other state

agencies and boards shall assist and facilitate the development and

implementation of a statewide trauma care system.

(6) Data obtained through a trauma registry or other data collected pursuant to

KRS 211.490 to 211.496 shall be confidential and for use solely by the

Department for Public Health, the statewide trauma care director, the advisory

committee, and persons or public or private entities that participate in data

collection for the trauma registry. Personal identifying information that is

collected for use in the trauma registry shall not be subject to discovery or

introduction into evidence in any civil action.

(7) The statewide trauma care director shall report information on the status of the

development and implementation of the statewide trauma system upon

request.

(8) The Department for Public Health may promulgate administrative regulations in

accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to implement this section.