Georgia County Government - February 2009 - (Page 15)

PolicySpotlight Georgia’s Trauma System: The Emergency Management System Component By Courtney Terwilliger Vice President – Directors Division Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services, Inc. (GAEMS) Although improvements have been made to Georgia’s trauma care network, Georgia still lacks an effective and organized statewide trauma care system. Here’s a look at the important role of Emergency Medical Services. F or the past several years an increased effort has been made by Georgia’s legislative leadership to address the death rate in Georgia caused by traumatic injuries. Trauma remains the leading cause of death for all Georgians younger than 44. Almost everyone has a family member or friend who has died from traumatic injuries. In Georgia, hundreds of lives are lost each year needlessly because the state lacks an efficient, organized statewide trauma care system. The bright side is that in the past several years great strides have been made. In 2007, S.B. 60, authored by Sens. Cecil Staton and Eric Johnson, was passed that provided the state with the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission. This Commission, made up of representatives from the trauma care providers, is charged with the improving the Trauma System. The trauma improvement effort received an additional boost in the 2008 legislative year when the governor put $53 million into the supplemental budget to assist with this effort. The Legislature responded with an additional funding to bring the total up to $58.9 million. This money was allocated to begin to address the problems with an increasing fragile system. For this first year of funding the Commission has divided this funding into three types of expenditures: readiness costs, uncompensated care cost and equipment grants. It is important to note here that many individuals often feel this charge is to improve the trauma centers. While everyone agrees the trauma centers are the largest and most visible part of this system, it is essential that everyone understands the system is truly a three-legged stool that relies on equal cooperation from the trauma centers, the physicians and staff who work there and the Emergency Management System (EMS) professionals who treat and transport the patients. In Georgia, 89 percent of the seriously injured trauma patients arrived at the trauma center via the EMS system. Readiness Cost A recent change in medical practice has been an increased “regionalization” TRAUMA continued on page 16 FEBRUARY 2009 www.accg.org 15 http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - February 2009

Georgia County Government - February 2009 Contents President’s Message County Matters ACCG Training Programs: A Foundation for Excellence in County Government ACCG Welcomes Newly Elected Commissioners Georgia’s Trauma System: The Emergency Management System Component Demographics Program Addresses County Planning Extension News: 4-H Camping Program Benefits Georgia Youth Research Corner: Promote Economic Development in Your Rural County County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - February 2009

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