e-Trauma Update
June 2015
Change to Level 4 Designation Process Proposed, Feedback Sought
The State Trauma Advisory Council (STAC) is seeking feedback about a proposal to change
the Level 4 designation process to mirror the Level 3 designation process. (The proposal
does not change the designation criteria; just the process.) Under the proposal, Level 4
trauma hospitals would apply for designation and undergo a site visit before review by the
STAC. This proposal would allow Level 4s to prepare materials—and the STAC to evaluate
materials—for the trauma system verification process only once during a hospital’s threeyear designation cycle rather than twice, as it is now. Read more about the proposal’s
benefits and challenges.
The STAC plans to vote on the proposal at their September 15, 2015 meeting. A legislative
change would be necessary if the proposal passes. Submit questions, comments or
concerns about the proposal to the trauma system coordinator, [email protected]
or 651-201-3841, by August 30, 2015.
STAC Adopts Data Work Plan, Seeks Stakeholders for Data Work Group
At their June 2015 meeting the STAC adopted a data work plan that will guide progress
toward the ultimate goal of having a complete and robust trauma registry from which to
assess trauma system performance.
Dr. Ron Furnival, chair of the STAC, intends to appoint interested stakeholders, such as
trauma registrars, trauma program managers and physicians, to a data work group to
address several of the work plan tasks. The data work group’s charge is to:
1. Recommend a date to stop collecting data in ICD-9 and begin collecting in ICD-10.
2. Evaluate the trauma registry inclusion criteria and make recommendations to add
clarity and/or to address the needs of the trauma system.
3. Evaluate the size of data set and recommend strategies to ease reporting for
hospitals.
4. Review and update definitions in the data dictionary.
5. Recommend strategies to improve reporting compliance and record completeness.
6. Identify standardized reports that will be valuable to hospitals.
The work group will meet periodically over the coming months to accomplish its charge.
Those interested in seeking appointment to the work group are encouraged to contact the
trauma system coordinator, [email protected] or 651-201-3841, by July 30. Work
group members are eligible for travel expenses reimbursement.
STAC Adopts ICD-10 Trauma Registry Inclusion Criteria
At their June 2015 meeting the STAC adopted an ICD-10 version of the trauma registry
inclusion criteria. While trauma data may only be reported using ICD-9 codes, some
hospitals have already converted their internal process to use ICD-10 codes. Those
hospitals now have an ICD-10 version of the trauma registry case definition to guide their
selection of cases to report, though the cases must still be reported using ICD-9 codes. The
looming adoption of ICD-10 by the healthcare industry means that the STAC will soon have
to set a time to stop collecting trauma data using ICD-9 codes and start collecting in ICD-10.
Continue to monitor the e-Trauma for breaking news!
STAC Welcomes New Member
Dr. Aaron Burnett has been appointed to the STAC filling the State EMS Medical Director
position. Dr. Burnett is an emergency physician and associate EMS medical director at
Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Welcome Dr. Burnett!
New Online Designation Application Ready for Prime Time
Sign up For Training!
Level 3 and 4 trauma program managers should register now for an orientation to the new
online trauma hospital designation application. Paper applications are being retired.
Instead, applications for designation will be made using the new web-based tool. A new
application created in the electronic tool can be stored as an electronic profile so that it can
simply be updated and resubmitted when re-designation time rolls around. Prior site visit
reports will also be readily accessible to the hospital on demand. It is expected to save
hospitals and trauma system staff a considerable amount of time.
Four instructional webinars have been scheduled for hospital staff that will be responsible
for completing the application. The electronic application will go live on August 19.
Hospitals with designations expiring any time after January 1, 2016 must submit their
application electronically. But all hospitals can begin building their profiles at any time.
Register early for one of these webinars!
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Wednesday, August 19; 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Friday, September 18; 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, September 29; 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, October 21; 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Planning Underway for a Large-Scale Burn Event
The MDH Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response is coordinating a project to
develop regional response plans to a multiple casualty incident involving burn injuries.
Minnesota’s two accredited burn centers could become overwhelmed in such an event,
requiring non-burn center hospitals to manage patients that would normally be referred to
a burn center. Since burn patients often require substantial resources, planning and
preparation for the event is crucial.
The vision includes identifying certain hospitals that are prepared to act as burn surge
facilities. These facilities, likely some of the trauma system’s Level 1, 2 and 3 trauma
hospitals, would maintain supplies and participate in planning and exercises. The trauma
system’s Regional Trauma Advisory Committees (RTACs) will work with the state’s eight
hospital preparedness regions to identify likely burn surge facilities.
Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Events
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June 29 & 30: Rural Health Conference in Duluth
July 13: Southwest Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Meeting in Marshall
August 13: Southern Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Meeting in Owatonna
August 14: Minnesota Metropolitan Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Meeting in St. Paul
August 19: Online Designation Application Training via Webinar
September 14: Southwest Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Meeting in Marshall
September 15: Trauma Program Managers Networking Meeting in Shoreview
September 15: RTAC Leadership Forum in Shoreview
September 15: State Trauma Advisory Council Meeting in Shoreview
September 17: Central Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Meeting in St. Cloud
September 17: Western Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Meeting in Detroit Lakes
September 17: Northeast Minnesota Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Meeting in Duluth
September 18: Online Designation Application Training via Webinar
September 23: Trauma Program Manager 101 in Mankato
September 24: MNTrauma 101 in Mankato
September 29: Online Designation Application Training via Webinar
October 21: Online Designation Application Training via Webinar
2016 STAC Meetings
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March 8, 2016
June 7, 2016
September 13, 2016
December 13, 2016
View trauma system calendar of events.