Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 15 - Mississippi Department of Health › Part 8 - Office of Health Policy and Planning › Subpart 90 - Planning and Resource Development › Chapter 05 - Acute Care Facilities and Services Overview › Section 15-8-90-05-519 - Mississippi Trauma Care System › Section 15-8-90-05-519.01 - Organization

Current through June 25, 2024
Miss. Code Ann. §
											41-59-5(5),
						establishes MSDH as the lead agency to develop a uniform, non-fragmented,
						inclusive statewide Trauma Care System, that provides excellent patient care.
						Through the State Trauma Plan, MSDH has designated seven trauma care regions;
						each incorporated as a 501c-3 organization which contracts with MSDH to
						administer the plan within their respective region. The State Trauma Plan
						includes the seven regional plans, allows for transfer protocols between trauma
						facilities, and for trauma patients to be transported to the "most appropriate"
						trauma facility for their injuries.
To increase participation in the Trauma Care System, the
						Mississippi Legislature enacted legislation (House Bill 1405) in 2008, which
						required MSDH to develop regulations mandating all licensed acute-care
						facilities participate in the Mississippi Trauma Care System ("Play or Pay").
						Hospitals must participate at a level commensurate with their capabilities or
						pay a non-participation fee to the Trauma Care Trust Fund. Each hospital's
						capability to participate in the Trauma Care System is reviewed annually by
						their respective Trauma Care Region and MSDH, which determines the appropriate
						level of participation and any associated fee.
Trauma facility designation levels set specific criteria
						and standards of care that guide hospital and emergency personnel in
						determining the level of care a trauma victim needs, and whether that hospital
						can care for the patient or transfer the patient to a trauma center that can
						administer more definitive care.
Level I Trauma Centers
must have a full
						range of trauma capabilities, including an emergency department, a full-service
						surgical suite, intensive care unit, and diagnostic imaging. Level I centers
						must have a surgical residency program, ongoing trauma research, and provide
						24-hour trauma service. These hospitals provide a variety of other services to
						comprehensively care for trauma patients. Level I Trauma Centers act as
						referral facilities for Level II, III, and IV Trauma Centers. The University of
						Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson is the only Level I facility in
						the state. Two Level I Trauma Centers border the northern and southeastern part
						of the state and are in Tennessee and Alabama. Additionally, a "stand-alone"
						Tertiary Pediatric Trauma Center located in Tennessee participates in the
						system.
Level II Trauma Centers
must be able to
						provide comprehensive care to the severely injured patient. These facilities
						must have a full range of trauma capabilities, including an emergency
						department, a full-service surgical suite, an intensive care unit, and
						diagnostic imaging. Level II Trauma Centers act as referral facilities for
						Level III and IV Trauma Centers.
Level III Trauma Centers
must offer
						general/trauma surgery and orthopedic surgery and have the ability to manage
						the initial care of multi-system trauma patients. Transfer protocols must be in
						place with Level I and II Trauma Centers for patients that exceed the Level III
						Trauma Center's resources.
Level IV Trauma Centers
provide initial
						evaluation and assessment of injured patients. Most patients will require
						transfer to facilities with more resources dedicated to providing optimal care
						for the injured patients. Level IV Trauma Centers must have transfer protocols
						in place with Level I, II, and III Trauma Centers.