§ 20-13-801. Title

This subchapter is known and may be cited as the “Trauma System Act”.

§ 20-13-802. Legislative findings

The General Assembly finds that: (1) Traumatic injury is recognized as the leading killer of persons one (1) year to forty-four (44) years of age and is a serious yet preventable condition; (2) Deaths due to trauma in the United States for 2005 were nearly one hundred thirty-nine thousand (139,000), and children nineteen (19) years […]

§ 20-13-804. Powers and duties of the Department of Health

(a) The Department of Health may develop and implement a comprehensive trauma care system that provides guidelines for the care of trauma victims and is fully integrated with all available resources, including, but not limited to, existing emergency medical services providers, hospitals, or other healthcare providers that would like to participate in the program. (b) […]

§ 20-13-805. Standards for verification of trauma center status

(a) The State Board of Health may adopt standards for designation and verification of trauma center status which assign level designations based on resources available within the facility. (b) (1) Standards shall be based upon national guidelines, including those established by the American College of Surgeons entitled “Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient […]

§ 20-13-806. Trauma data collection and evaluation system — Confidentiality of records

(a) (1) The Department of Health shall develop a trauma data collection and evaluation system known as the “Trauma Registry”. (2) The Trauma Registry shall be designed to study both the individual and collective care and treatment given to patients of the trauma system. (b) (1) The department may collect data and information regarding patients […]

§ 20-13-807. Trauma Advisory Council

(a) There is established an advisory council, to be known as the “Trauma Advisory Council”, for the purpose of making recommendations, advising, and providing assistance to the Department of Health concerning the development and operation of a statewide trauma system. (b) The Trauma Advisory Council shall consist of twelve (12) voting members who have a […]

§ 20-13-808. Terms — Vacancies — Meetings — Rules

(a) All voting members of the Trauma Advisory Council shall be appointed for terms of five (5) years. (b) (1) If a vacancy occurs in an appointed position for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided for the original appointment under § 20-13-807. (2) The new appointee shall serve for the […]

§ 20-13-809. Grants for emergency medical system care providers or ambulance providers

An emergency medical system care provider or ambulance provider may be eligible for: (1) The emergency medical system care provider education start-up grants that are used to support trauma education and trauma readiness; or (2) The emergency medical system care provider sustaining grants that are used to support ongoing trauma education and trauma readiness.

§ 20-13-810. Grants for Level I trauma centers

(a) (1) An entity that meets the preliminary criteria for a Level I trauma center under the rules of the State Board of Health may be eligible for the Level I trauma center start-up grant that is used to qualify for the status of a Level I trauma center and for trauma readiness costs associated […]

§ 20-13-811. Grants for Level II trauma centers

(a) (1) An entity that meets the preliminary criteria for a Level II trauma center under the rules of the State Board of Health may be eligible for the Level II trauma center start-up grant that is used to qualify for the status of a Level II trauma center and for trauma readiness costs associated […]

§ 20-13-812. Grants for Level III trauma centers

(a) (1) An entity that meets the preliminary criteria for a Level III trauma center under the rules of the State Board of Health may be eligible for the Level III trauma center start-up grant that is used to qualify for the status of a Level III trauma center and for trauma readiness costs associated […]

§ 20-13-813. Grants for Level IV trauma centers

(a) (1) An entity that meets the preliminary criteria for a Level IV trauma center under the rules of the State Board of Health may be eligible for the Level IV trauma center start-up grant that is used to qualify for the status of a Level IV trauma center and for trauma readiness costs associated […]

§ 20-13-814. Grants for rehabilitation services

Grants may be awarded to providers, entities, or organizations with special competence in trauma rehabilitation services that provide rehabilitation services under this subchapter to trauma patients.

§ 20-13-815. Contracts with quality improvement organizations

(a) An entity that meets the preliminary criteria for a quality improvement organization under the rules of the State Board of Health may contract with the Department of Health to develop, promulgate, and measure trauma quality measures for entities providing care for the trauma system under this subchapter. (b) This contract may be awarded to […]

§ 20-13-816. Grants for trauma regional advisory councils

(a) (1) An entity that meets the preliminary criteria for a trauma regional advisory council under the rules of the State Board of Health may be eligible for recognition as a trauma regional advisory council. (2) The Department of Health may establish a grant or provide technical assistance to entities that: (A) Meet the preliminary […]

§ 20-13-817. Command and communication networks

(a) The Department of Health shall ensure operation of a call center to facilitate communication and coordination of available resources. (b) The call center shall direct patient transport of critical trauma patients to hospitals with the appropriate capability to provide optimum patient care. (c) The department may contract with entities to provide command and communication […]

§ 20-13-818. Injury prevention programs

The Department of Health shall allocate funds to develop and promote injury prevention programs including the development of the capacity to track and describe the epidemiologic and health statistics of injury deaths and disabilities in Arkansas.

§ 20-13-819. Quality or system assessment and improvement — Definition

(a) (1) Any data, records, reports, and documents collected or compiled by or on behalf of the Department of Health, the Trauma Advisory Council, or other entity authorized under this subchapter for the purpose of quality or system assessment and improvement of the trauma system shall not be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of […]

§ 20-13-820. Reports to the General Assembly

The Secretary of the Department of Health shall provide a report to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor and the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor on or before April 1 and October 1 of each year through 2011. After 2011, the secretary shall provide an annual report to the […]

§ 20-13-821. Rules

The State Board of Health shall promulgate the rules necessary to implement and administer this subchapter.