Illinois Department of Public Health Makes Trauma Center Recommendations

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck today released the Trauma Center Feasibility Study with recommendations on how to increase access to medical care in traumatic emergency situations.
 
“Every life has value.  And every life deserves the right care, at the right place, and at the right time,” said Dr. Hasbrouck.  “Some victims of violence and other forms of trauma do not have ready access to the care they need because of a lack of high level medical facilities in that area.  The Trauma Center Feasibility Study looks at areas where access to emergency care for traumatic injuries is lacking and offers recommendations on how to fill these relative trauma deserts.”
 
Trauma centers are specialized facilities within hospitals with the expertise to care for patients with traumatic injuries.  For a hospital to become a trauma center in Illinois, it voluntarily seeks either a Level I (highest) or Level II (lower) trauma center designation from IDPH.  Requirements for designation include certain qualified staff, such as subspecialty surgeons – neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic, orthopedic – and sophisticated diagnostic and monitoring equipment.  Due to these requirements, costs for operating a Level I or Level II trauma center can exceed $20 million annually.  Because of this high financial burden, many hospitals are not able to afford to be designated as a trauma center, and IDPH does not have the legislative, fiscal or operational authority to require a hospital to become a trauma center.
 
In working with various state agencies, members of the General Assembly, the Illinois Hospital Association and the State Trauma Advisory Council, IDPH has developed six recommendations to increase the availability of trauma care in Illinois.  Some of the recommendations specifically address the Southside Chicago trauma desert, while others address all trauma deserts, including those in central and southern Illinois where many victims must travel as far as two hours, and across state boarders in some cases, to receive trauma services.

1.     Community leaders and advocates in Southside Chicago are encouraged to speak with hospitals that are not currently designated as trauma centers about internally assessing the feasibility of becoming a Level II trauma center.    
 
2.     Community leaders and advocates in Southside Chicago are also encouraged to engage hospitals to assess their desire, capacity and readiness to participate in the statewide trauma system.
 
3.     Hospitals designated as Pediatric Trauma Centers (Level I or Level II) are encouraged to consider increasing the upper age limit from 15 years to 18 or 19 years.  The Emergency Medical Services Act does not set a cut-off age for pediatric patients.
 
4.     Community leaders and advocates are encouraged to support legislation to expand the current trauma system to a multi-tiered system with three levels of care Level I, Level II and Level III.
 
5.     Hospitals considering participation in the statewide trauma system are encouraged to identify supplemental funding and/or self-sustaining business models.
 
6.     Hospitals considering participation in the statewide trauma system are encouraged to contact IDPH for guidance and instructions.
 
“IDPH recognizes the need to further expand and improve the availability of trauma care to patients throughout Illinois and offers the Trauma Center Feasibility Study and its recommendations as a starting place,” said Dr. Hasbrouck.

 The study can be found on the IDPH website at http://dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Trauma_Center_F...
 

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IDPH continues to implement its Five Year Strategy 2014-2018 to maximize IDPH’s effectiveness, influence and value for promoting wellness, health equity, safety and improved health outcomes.  Strategic plan priorities include developing and expanding partnerships; improving data utilization; reducing health disparities; improving regulatory compliance; and branding, marketing and communicating IDPH’s value.  http://dph.illinois.gov/sites/default/files/publications//strategicplanfinal2014-2018.pdf .