Western Mass Emergency Medical Services Committee, Inc.

Meeting: Trauma System Committee

Date: March 13, 2002

Place: Living Room, McCallum Building, CDH, Northampton

Presiding: Mary Cushman, Chairman

Called to Order: 8:48 am

Adjourned: 10:07 am

Attendance:

Present: Diane Brunelle, Felicia Bycenski, Mary Cushman, MJ Dinneen, Tracy Disilva, Clark Fenn, Chris Hopewell, Linda Murphy and Hani Seoudi

Guests: Dawn Josefski

Conflict of Interest Statement: The chairperson opened the meeting with a review of the conflict of interest statement. No one present had any conflicts to divulge for any items on the agenda. Members present completed the conflict of interest form. Other members not in attendance will be asked to complete the form.

Minutes: Minutes were approved as written.

Welcome New Members:

Ms. Cushman reported that the letters to the hospital CEOs went out and we have had a response from Fairview Hospital. They have identified Ms. Kit Hafele, RN as their representative. The members welcomed Dr. Seoudi from Berkshire Medical Center. Mr. Hopewell requested that Ms. Cushman call Mercy Hospital directly to ask for representation at these meetings.

Action- Ms. Cushman to contact Mercy Hospital

Membership list:

The current membership list was distributed. Additions will be made based on today’s attendance and the updated list will be distributed at the next meeting.

Action- Membership list to be updated and brought to next meeting.

Update on State Trauma Committee and Subcommittees:

There was a State Trauma committee meeting on February 28. The subcommittees presented their recommendations, which will be forwarded to the State Medical Services Committee. Ms. Cushman announced that there will be an EMS Summit on April 2,2002 to discuss the progress and continued implementation of EMS 2000. The State Trauma Committee and sub-committees will continue to meet until after finalization of the current recommendations. They will continue to meet until operational issues are completed.

Action: Members to keep this committee updated on state progress.

Committee Goals:

The remainder of the meeting was spent brainstorming strategies to achieve the goals. Ms. Cushman had created a worksheet to help identify the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for each goal.

Goal 1. Standardize management of trauma patient care across the region.

Strength- The proposed state trauma triage protocol is very similar to our current Region One policy. Most members present felt that the field triage of trauma patients is done appropriately in the majority of cases. A question was raised about the percentage of patients that are taken to Level One center s unnecessarily. There are no statistics available.

Weakness- Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) is not consistent throughout our region and this affects utilization of resources. Dr. Seoudi mentioned that there should also be a standardization of trauma transfer protocols for hospitals within our region.

Goal 2. Build an educational plan, which includes medical control and triage criteria.

Strength- Region One has a trauma triage policy in place and most field personnel know that Baystate Medical Center the Level One trauma center.

Weakness- There is no state requirement for trauma specific continuing education. Also Dr. Dinneen stated that Emergency Department staff could benefit from standardization of knowledge regarding the trauma system.

Goal 3. Enhance the relationship and communication process between prehospital providers, medical control and receiving facilities.

Strength-

Weakness- Need to identify an appropriate method of communication for all involved parties (hospitals, MD’s and ambulances). Also there should be a mechanism in place so that everyone is communicating on the same level (i.e. ED staff, hospital administration and private practice MDs).

Goal 4. Explore funding/grant opportunities for trauma care.

Strength- We have established this committee and are working on developing tangible goals.

Weakness- We need to prove what our needs are and have specific plans in place.

Goal 5. Develop a database to track trauma care issues, practices and data.

Strength- Baystate Medical Center is currently tracking trauma patients who enter their system.

Weakness- We don’t have a regional data collection system in place. We need to determine who will collect, analyze and disseminate data.

After review of the strengths and weakness the committee looked at possible opportunities:

- Financial resources…there might be some money available once we identify the aforementioned goals and strategies.

- Development of new educational forums.

- Personnel to work together.

- Enhance communications throughout the regions as well between towns.

- Work with local Medical Control in regard to the Point of Entry policy.

All present felt that this was a very good beginning in our process of developing a strategic plan to accomplish our goals.

Action- Ms. Cushman to compile the information from this meeting.

Agenda for next meeting:

1. Update on State Trauma Committee

2. Continue to work on developing the strategic plan.

Next Meeting:

Wednesday April 10, 2002 at 8:45 am, Living Room, McCallum Building, Cooley Dickinson Hospital

Adjourn:

Motion made to adjourn at 10:07 a.m. Motion approved unanimously.

Dawn Josefski, Recorder