RCW 70.168.060 Department duties—Timelines.

The department, in consultation with and having solicited the advice of the emergency medical services and trauma care steering committee, shall:

(1) Establish the following on a statewide basis:

(a) By September 1990, minimum standards for facility, equipment, and personnel for level I, II, III, IV, and V trauma care services;

(b) By September 1990, minimum standards for facility, equipment, and personnel for level I, I-pediatric, II, and III trauma-related rehabilitative services;

(c) By September 1990, minimum standards for facility, equipment, and personnel for level I, II, and III pediatric trauma care services;

(d) By September 1990, minimum standards required for verified prehospital trauma care services, including equipment and personnel;

(e) Personnel training requirements and programs for providers of trauma care. The department shall design programs which are accessible to rural providers including on-site training;

(f) Statewide emergency medical services and trauma care system objectives and priorities;

(g) Minimum standards for the development of facility patient care protocols and prehospital patient care protocols and patient care procedures;

(h) By July 1991, minimum standards for an effective emergency medical communication system;

(i) Minimum standards for an effective emergency medical services transportation system; and

(j) By July 1991, establish a program for emergency medical services and trauma care research and development;

(2) Establish statewide standards, personnel training requirements and programs, system objectives and priorities, protocols and guidelines as required in subsection (1) of this section, by utilizing those standards adopted in the report of the Washington trauma advisory committee as authorized by chapter 183, Laws of 1988. In establishing standards for level IV or V trauma care services the department may adopt similar standards adopted for services provided in rural health care facilities authorized in chapter 70.175 RCW. The department may modify standards, personnel training requirements and programs, system objectives and priorities, and guidelines in rule if the department determines that such modifications are necessary to meet federal and other state requirements or are essential to allow the department and others to establish the system or should it determine that public health considerations or efficiencies in the delivery of emergency medical services and trauma care warrant such modifications;

(3) Designate emergency medical services and trauma care planning and service regions as provided for in this chapter;

(4) By July 1, 1992, establish the minimum and maximum number of hospitals and health care facilities in the state and within each emergency medical services and trauma care planning and service region that may provide designated trauma care services based upon approved regional emergency medical services and trauma care plans;

(5) By July 1, 1991, establish the minimum and maximum number of prehospital providers in the state and within each emergency medical services and trauma care planning and service region that may provide verified trauma care services based upon approved regional emergency medical services and trauma care plans;

(6) By July 1993, begin the designation of hospitals and health care facilities to provide designated trauma care services in accordance with needs identified in the statewide emergency medical services and trauma care plan;

(7) By July 1990, adopt a format for submission of the regional plans to the department;

(8) By July 1991, begin the review and approval of regional emergency medical services and trauma care plans;

(9) By July 1992, prepare regional plans for those regions that do not submit a regional plan to the department that meets the requirements of this chapter;

(10) By October 1992, prepare and implement the statewide emergency medical services and trauma care system plan incorporating the regional plans;

(11) Coordinate the statewide emergency medical services and trauma care system to assure integration and smooth operation between the regions;

(12) Facilitate coordination between the emergency medical services and trauma care steering committee and the emergency medical services licensing and certification advisory committee;

(13) Monitor the statewide emergency medical services and trauma care system;

(14) Conduct a study of all costs, charges, expenses, and levels of reimbursement associated with providers of trauma care services, and provide its findings and any recommendations regarding adequate and equitable reimbursement to trauma care providers to the legislature by July 1, 1991;

(15) Monitor the level of public and private payments made on behalf of trauma care patients to determine whether health care providers have been adequately reimbursed for the costs of care rendered such persons;

(16) By July 1991, design and establish the statewide trauma care registry as authorized in RCW 70.168.090 to (a) assess the effectiveness of emergency medical services and trauma care delivery, and (b) modify standards and other system requirements to improve the provision of emergency medical services and trauma care;

(17) By July 1991, develop patient outcome measures to assess the effectiveness of emergency medical services and trauma care in the system;

(18) By July 1993, develop standards for regional emergency medical services and trauma care quality assurance programs required in RCW 70.168.090;

(19) Administer funding allocated to the department for the purpose of creating, maintaining, or enhancing the statewide emergency medical services and trauma care system; and

(20) By October 1990, begin coordination and development of trauma prevention and education programs.

[ 1990 c 269 § 8.]