New rule in effect for trauma patients

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A new rule that went into effect Aug. 8 in the State of Indiana changes the way trauma patients are transported to the hospital for their injuries.

A 2008 bill authored by State Senator Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne) charged the Indiana Emergency Medical Services Commission to make upgrades to the state's trauma system.

The Triage and Transport Rule requires medical personnel to transport a severe traumatic injury patient, as defined by the Center for Disease Controls and Prevention, to the nearest trauma center instead of the nearest hospital.

The rule is an attempt to provide important care to patients within the first hour of an injury.

"In our efforts to create a statewide trauma system, this rule is foundational,” said State Health Commissioner Gregory Larkin, MD in an Indiana State Department of Health release.  “It should mean more severely injured patients will be taken directly to trauma centers, and it should also mean more hospitals will become trauma centers."

After an incident and after medical personnel have determined a patient to be in the severe category, emergency personnel must transport that patient to the nearest trauma center. The only exceptions to the rule are: 1) If the patient refuses, 2) the transport would take more than 45 minutes, 3) the patient would be endangered by delaying care by traveling to a trauma center.

National statistics state patients have a 25 to 30 percent greater chance of survival when taken to a trauma center instead of an emergency room.

Indiana has eight trauma certified hospitals including Lutheran Hospital and Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. One hospital is in South Bend, two in Evansville, and three in Indianapolis.

Health officials believe the new rule will eventually add additional trauma centers around the state. A fourth hospital in Indianapolis is in the planning stages of becoming a trauma center.

Indiana officials concluded 52 percent of Hoosiers are within 45 minutes of a trauma center. Neighboring Ohio, whose trauma plan has been in place for about ten years, has 44 trauma centers throughout the state .

Senator Wyss wants to see the trauma system in Indiana move forward.

“I applaud the work of the EMS Commission and the state agencies involved in passing this rule,” said Senator Wyss in a release.  “I wanted to make sure that Hoosiers were being taken to the proper destination after suffering a traumatic injury. This rule is one more step in the right direction toward patient safety and quality care.”

The rule was signed by Governor Daniels in July.