Trauma Center Designation

Section 515 Section 515.2000  Trauma Center Designation a) The Department shall attempt to designate trauma centers in all areas of the State.  There shall be at least one Level I Trauma Center serving each EMS Region, unless waived by the Department.  Level I Trauma Centers shall serve as resources for Level II Trauma Centers in the EMS Regions.  The extent of such relationships shall be defined in the EMS Region plan. (Section 3.90(b)(5) of the Act) b)         Any hospital seeking designation as a Level I or Level II Trauma Center shall submit an application form (see Section 515.Appendix A of this Part) as prescribed by the Department. c) Upon receipt of a completed application, the Department shall conduct a site visit to determine compliance with the Act and this Part. A report of the inspection shall be provided to the Director within 30 days of the completion of the site visit. (Section 3.90(b)(3) of the Act) The applicant hospital shall be operational for designation within six months after the application and site survey are approved. d) The Department shall designate those applicant hospitals as Level I or Level II Trauma Centers which meet the requirements established by the Act and this Part. e) Beginning September 1, 1997 the Department shall designate a new Trauma Center only when a local or Regional need for such a Trauma Center has been identified by the applicable EMS Region's Trauma Center Medical Directors Committee, with advice from the Regional Trauma Advisory Committee. (Section 3.90(b)(4) of the Act) Department designation shall be based upon any of the following criteria justifying a need for designation of a new Trauma Center: 1)         Number of expected trauma cases; 2)         An estimated time of arrival to existing Trauma Centers greater than 25 minutes; 3)         The number of times that surrounding Trauma Centers went on bypass status within the preceding year; 4)         A recommendation by the Regional Trauma Advisory Committee or Regional EMS Advisory Committee that there is an identifiable need for additional Trauma Centers since the trauma system was implemented; and 5)         Documentation of extenuating circumstances, which will be reviewed by the Department on an individual basis, where a special need exists and/or a population is not serviced by an existing Trauma Center. f)         A Trauma Center designation shall be for two years. g)         All Trauma Centers are required to obtain and maintain recognition as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatric (EDAP) or Pediatric Critical Care Center (PCCC) as outlined in this Part.  Out-of-state trauma centers can meet this requirement by meeting their own respective state defined pediatric criteria. h)         All requests for renewal of Trauma Center designations shall be filed in writing (see Section 515.Appendix B of this Part) with the Department before the designation expiration date.  If the renewal request meets the requirements of this Part, the existing designation shall continue in full force and effect until a final Department decision on the renewal request has been issued. i)          Any Trauma Center may voluntarily terminate its designation prior to its expiration date by notifying the Department in writing at least 60 days but no more than 90 days prior to termination.  Such notification shall include the anticipated date of termination, and shall describe the procedures taken by the Trauma Center to notify the providers, hospitals, EMS systems and other Trauma Centers in the EMS Region. j) No facility shall use the phrase "Trauma Center" or words of similar meaning in relation to itself or hold itself out as a Trauma Center without first obtaining designation pursuant to the Act and this Part.  (Section 3.105 of the Act)