| Background:
Alaska’s
Trauma-EMS System is a work in progress. A great deal has been accomplished
since 1992 when the state received the first year of a three-year
federal grant specifically targeted toward trauma care system development.
Since federal funding has been re-instated, there has been further
momentum in enhancing our system.
We
currently have a committee the Alaska Trauma System Review Committee
that assists the State in the development, enhancement, and evaluation
of our Trauma-EMS System.
In
1993 Alaska passed enabling legislation for trauma care system development
and accompanying regulations, (AS
18.08.010-015, and 7
AAC 26.710-745) were adopted in 1996.
Trauma
Center Designation:
An
important component of Alaska’s trauma care system is certified
trauma centers. Trauma centers provide an organized and timely response
to traumatic injury. What this means in Alaska is:
•
The hospital has demonstrated commitment to providing the best trauma
care possible by allowing experts to review staffing and qualifications,
procedures, protocols and resources;
• The hospital meets state and national standards for providing
timely and optimal care for the trauma patient, and;
• The hospital is prepared to treat and transport trauma patients
according to Alaska’s system-wide plan.
There
are four levels of trauma center designation/certification. Alaska
has adopted the criteria set forth by the American College of Surgeons
Committee on Trauma (ACSCOT). Prior to applying for state certification,
Level I, II, and III trauma centers must complete an application
to ACSCOT and have a verification visit by a team from ACSCOT. Using
ACSCOT criteria, Level IV trauma centers are verified by a state
team, appointed by the Alaska Division of Public Health.
•
Level I – Regional Resource
Center – Level I Trauma Centers generally
serve large cities or population-dense areas. A Level I Trauma Center
is responsible for providing leadership in research, professional
and community education. There are no Level I Trauma Centers in
Alaska because, there are no trauma research and teaching facilities
in Alaska.
•
Level II – Regional Trauma Centers
– A Level II Trauma Center provides comprehensive trauma care
and serves as a lead trauma facility for a geographical area. A
Level II Trauma Center provides educational outreach and prevention
programs and assumes responsibility for trauma system leadership.
There are emergency physicians and nurses in-house to initiate resuscitation
and stabilization, with surgical teams on call and promptly available.
•
Level III – Area Trauma Center
–
The Level III Trauma Center provides assessment, resuscitation,
emergency surgery, and stabilization and, for the most critically
injured patients, arranges for transfer to a Level I or Level II
trauma center that can provide further definitive care. A general
surgeon must be promptly available and the facility must be involved
with prevention and have an active outreach program for its referring
communities.
•
Level IV – Local Trauma Stabilization Center –
Level IV Trauma Centers are small rural facilities that provide
initial evaluation and assessment of injured patients prior to transfer
to a larger referral facility.
For
more information, you can download a brochure about Trauma
Center Certification in Alaska.
Below
are documents/links to assist hospitals interested in seeking Trauma Center Designation.
For the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma (ACSCOT) Level I, II, III verification program visit: http://www.facs.org/trauma/verificationhosp.html
For the pre-review questionnaire for Level I, II, and III verification visit: http://www.facs.org/trauma/prq.doc
To request for a verification visit from ACSCOT visit: http://www.facs.org/trauma/sitevisitapplication1006.doc
|
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American College of Surgeons recommendations for a trauma system:
Trauma
Training:
Continuing
education training in trauma care for healthcare providers is an
important component of a Trauma-EMS System.
Advanced
Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Courses are offered periodically throughout
the year in Anchorage at the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC)
and occasionally in other areas of the state. For more information
on the ATLS courses at ANMC, contact Mary
Leemhuis, RN at (907) 729-2729; or Casie
Williams, RN at (907) 729-2936. In addition, Providence Alaska Medical Center is providing ATLS courses. Contact Jeanne Molitor, RN for information.
Basic
Trauma Life Support (BTLS) Courses are offered periodically through
the EMS Regional offices. Contact the nearest
office for more information.
Trauma
Nursing Core Course (TNCC) and Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course
(ENPC) are other courses available around the state. For more information
contact Jeanne Molitor, RN. For TNCC only contact Mary Leemhuis, RN or Margaret (Rocky) Carloni, RN.
Trauma
care continuing medical education training is often available at
the State and Regional EMS Symposia. Click HERE
for more information.
Alaska
Trauma Registry:
Alaska
is very fortunate to have a great source of data through our
Alaska
Trauma Registry.
Links:
American
College of Surgeons
is a scientific and educational association of surgeons founded
to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting
high standards for surgical education and practice. The Committee
on Trauma works to improve the care of injured and critically ill
patients – before, en route to, and during hospitalization.
Their web site has information on trauma center designation and
Advanced Trauma Life Support courses.
American
Trauma Society
is dedicated to the prevention of trauma and improvement of trauma
care. The society is a strong advocate for injury care and prevention
and have numerous programs.
American
College of Emergency Physicians
promotes the highest standards of patient care through its advocacy
and leadership efforts. Their web site has numerous resources on
a variety of topics.
TRAUMA.ORG
provides global education, information and communication resources
for professionals in trauma and critical care.
Alaska
Trauma/EMS List Server
Alaska
Trauma/EMS program is pleased to announce the list server that we
have developed to disseminate information from the federal and state
Trauma/EMS programs. This forum can also be used to improve communication
between the facilities and open opportunities for sharing. Please
be advised that if you send a message via the list serve it will
go to everyone that is a member.
To join this free list, send an e-mail message to:
list.manager@list.state.ak.us
The
body of the message should be:
Subscribe
ak-trauma |
