Level IV trauma center designation standards

The following standards must be met to achieve level IV designation: 1. Trauma team activation plan. 2. Trauma team leader must be a physician currently certified in advanced trauma life support who is on call and available within twenty minutes. If the trauma team leader is not current in advanced trauma life support, the facility must provide a backup physician that is current in advanced trauma life support to assess and evaluate the trauma patients meeting step one, two, or three of the field triage decision scheme, provided by the current edition of the American college of surgeons Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient when the noncertified physician is on call. If backup cannot be provided, the facility must go on diversion and notify the surrounding emergency medical services and the department. 3. The facility must have transfer agreements with facilities capable of caring for major trauma patients, burn care, pediatric trauma management, acute spinal cord and traumatic brain injury management, and rehabilitation services for long-term care. 4. Equipment for resuscitation and life support as determined by the department and state trauma committee. 5. Quality improvement programs, to include: a. Focused audit of selected criteria. b. Trauma registry in accordance with section 33-38-01-08. c. Focused audit for all trauma deaths. d. Morbidity and mortality review. e. Medical nursing audit, utilization review, and issue review. 6. Trauma transfer protocol to identify trauma patients whose condition may require care which exceeds current resources available.