36-2225. Statewide emergency medical services and trauma system; definitions

A. The department shall develop and administer a statewide emergency medical services and trauma system to implement the Arizona emergency medical services and trauma system plan. The department shall adopt rules to establish standards for the following:

1. Injury prevention activities to decrease the incidence of trauma and decrease the societal cost of preventable mortality and morbidity.

2. Public access to prehospital emergency medical services.

3. A statewide network of trauma centers that provide trauma care and to which trauma patients can be transported.

4. A trauma center designation and dedesignation process for health care institutions that provide trauma care. The department may adopt rules that:

(a) Allow for designation based on:

(i) A health care institution s verification as a trauma facility by a national verification organization.

(ii) A determination by a national verification organization that a health care institution meets the state standards established by rule for designation as a trauma center.

(iii) A determination by the department that a health care institution meets the state standards established by rule for designation as a trauma center.

(b) Require that trauma centers submit data to the trauma registry.

5. Trauma system evaluation and quality review through the collection and analysis of data.

6. Protection of confidential patient care and trauma registry information.

B. For the purposes of this section:

1. " National verification organization" means the American college of surgeons committee on trauma or other nationally recognized organization that verifies the ability of health care institutions to provide trauma services at various levels.

2. " Trauma center" means a health care institution that is designated pursuant to rules adopted by the department to provide a specific level of trauma care.