STATEWIDE TRAUMA SYSTEM
Pediatrician State Trauma Advisory
Council Member Qualifications
Problem statement
When the original legislative language was written, the statewide trauma system had no
pediatric trauma hospitals, nor did statutes permit the designation of pediatric trauma
hospitals. Today the MDH commissioner has the authority to designate pediatric trauma
hospitals and six hospitals have been designated as such. Because of this evolution of the
system, pediatric trauma surgeons are now involved in the trauma system; however, the
current legislative language does not permit a pediatric trauma surgeon to apply for a seat on
the State Trauma Advisory Council (STAC).
Proposal
The STAC Executive Committee proposed to amend Minnesota Statutes 144.608, Subdivision 1
to permit the appointment of a pediatric trauma surgeon to the STAC and to clarify the
expectation that the appointee to this seat is trained in and primarily practices emergency
and/or surgical care of pediatric patients.
Minnesota Statutes 144.608: TRAUMA ADVISORY COUNCIL
Subdivision 1.Trauma Advisory Council established.
(b) The council shall consist of the following members:
(9) a physician pediatrician certified in Pediatric Emergency Medicine by the American Board of
Pediatrics or certified in Pediatric Emergency Medicine the American Board of Emergency
Medicine or a physician certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics whose
practice primarily involves includes emergency department medicine care in a level I, II, III, or IV
trauma hospital, or a surgeon certified in Pediatric Surgery by the American Board of Surgery
whose practice involves the care of pediatric trauma patients in a trauma hospital;
Minnesota Department of Health
Statewide Trauma System
PO Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 551640882
651-201-3841
[email protected]
September 2015
To obtain this information
in a different format, call:
651-201-3838