Florida Administrative Code › 64 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH › 64J - Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support › Chapter 64J-2 - TRAUMA › Section 64J-2.002 - Prehospital Requirements for Trauma Care

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Each EMS provider shall ensure that upon
				arrival at the location of an incident, an EMT or paramedic shall assess the
				condition of each adult trauma patient using the adult trauma scorecard
				methodology to determine the transport destination, as provided in Rule
				 64J-2.004, F.A.C., and the
				transport destination of each pediatric patient by using the pediatric trauma
				scorecard methodology included in Rule
				 64J-2.005, F.A.C.
(2) Each EMS provider shall transport, or
				cause to be transported, every trauma alert patient to a trauma center nearest
				to the location of the incident, unless the distance is not relevant to the
				length of time for transport due to the use of an air ambulance. Pediatric
				trauma alert patients shall be transported to the nearest trauma center with
				pediatric services even if a trauma center without pediatric services is nearer
				to the location of the incident, except as provided in department-approved
				TTPs. If a trauma center further from the location of the incident has a
				special resource(s) that the nearest trauma center does not have, such as burn
				center or hyper baric chamber, which is needed for the immediate condition of
				the trauma alert patient, the EMS provider may transport to the trauma center
				having that special resource(s) even if the trauma center is not nearest to the
				incident. These exceptions to transporting to the nearest trauma center, or
				other exceptions the EMS provider wishes to request, shall be addressed in the
				EMS provider's TTPs which shall be submitted to the department for approval, in
				accordance with Section
				 395.4045, F.S., and Rule
				 64J-2.003, F.A.C.
(3) A trauma alert patient may be transported
				to a hospital other than a trauma center only if the hospital is closer to the
				scene of the incident, and the patient's immediate condition is such that the
				patient's life will be endangered if care is delayed by proceeding directly to
				the trauma center. If an EMS provider intends to transport trauma alert
				patients to hospitals other than a trauma centers under any other
				circumstances, those circumstances must be described in and authorized by the
				EMS provider's department-approved TTPs, as required in this section.
(a) An EMS provider must transport a trauma
				alert patient to a trauma center, except as may be provided in the EMS
				provider's department-approved TTPs. For situations for which the EMS provider
				intends to transport a trauma alert patient to a hospital other than trauma
				center, as indicated in the provider's or trauma agency's department-approved
				TTPs, the EMS provider or trauma agency shall ensure beforehand that the
				hospital meets the following criteria:
1. Is
				staffed 24-hours-per-day with a physician and other personnel who are qualified
				in emergency airway management, ventilatory support, and control of life
				threatening circulatory problems which shall include but not be limited to
				placement of endotracheal tubes; establishment of central intravenous lines;
				and insertion of chest tubes,
2.
				Has equipment and staff in-hospital and available to conduct chest and cervical
				spine x-rays,
3. Has laboratory
				facilities, equipment and staff in-hospital and available to analyze and report
				laboratory results,
4. Has
				equipment and staff on call and available to initiate definitive care required
				by a trauma alert patient within 30 minutes of the patient's arrival at the
				hospital, or can initiate procedures within 30 minutes of the patient's arrival
				to transfer the trauma alert patient to a trauma center; and,
5. Has a written transfer agreement with at
				least one trauma center. The transfer agreement shall provide specific
				procedures to ensure the timely transfer of the trauma alert patient to the
				trauma center.