Emergency Systems - Trauma

Trauma is an injury or injuries, caused by an external force or violence. Trauma injuries may range from minor to severe, from obvious to non-apparent and may include single or multiple injuries.

Organized Trauma System
A trauma system is an organized approach to facilitating and coordinating a multidisciplinary system response to severely injured patients. The trauma system continuum of care  includes injury prevention, emergency medical services field intervention, emergency department care, surgical interventions, intensive and general surgical in-hospital care, rehabilitative services, social services, and support groups to enable both the patient and their family to return to society at the most productive level possible. Multiple studies have shown that implementation of an organized trauma system results in 50% to 80% reduction in preventable deaths. This is all vitally important because:

• Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death for persons between the ages of 1-44 years in the United States.
• Traumatic injury results in more years of potential life lost than any other disease process including cancer and heart disease.
• Injury is America’s most expensive disease process costing nearly $180 million per year.
• The overall injury mortality rate in Oklahoma is 29% higher than the national average.

Trauma Legislation
The Oklahoma Trauma System Improvement and Development Act (SB 1554 by Robinson & Hilliard) was passed during the 2004 legislative session. This bill:

• Created the Oklahoma Trauma Systems Improvement and Development Advisory Council.
• Created Regional Trauma Advisory Boards with representation from regional hospital and ambulances services.
• Called for development of a statewide trauma system plan.
• Called for the development, regulation and improvement of trauma system on a statewide basis.
• Requires the development of regional trauma quality improvement activities and a state Medical Audit Committee to review these activities.

In 2008, amendments were introduced in House Bill 2758. These changes became effective November 1, 2008 which included:

• The Oklahoma Trauma Systems Improvement and Development Advisory Council will compose of nineteen members instead of eighteen.
• The Governor shall appoint an oral and maxillofacial surgeon as the new council member.

Trauma Regulations

• The Rules for the distribution of the Trauma Fund are found in OAC310:669 
• Hospital Trauma Classification Standards for Trauma Care are defined in the Hospital StandardsOAC310:667

Other Division Links

• EMS Division
• Injury Prevention
• Medical Facilities Division
• Emergency Preparedness & Response Service

Location: Emergency Systems, Protective Health Services, Oklahoma State Department of Health 

1000 N.E. Tenth Street, Room 1104, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73117-1299
Phone: (405) 271-4027
Fax: (405) 271-4240
E-mail:  ESystems@health.ok.gov