The Wyoming Trauma Program mission and guiding vision is to promote optimal care of the injured patient from the time of injury through rehabilitation through the establishment, enhancement and maintenance of effective emergency medical & trauma care systems.
Trauma System in Wyoming
Wyoming’s trauma system is an organized, coordinated effort in a defined geographic area that delivers the full range of care to all injured patients and is integrated with the public health system. The true value of a trauma system is derived from the seamless transition between each phase of patient care, integrating existing resources to achieve improved patient outcomes. In Wyoming, the trauma system is made up of a network of hospitals and ambulance services organized and coordinated to optimize the care provided to seriously injured people by ensuring that injured people are cared for at a hospital with resources that are matched with the injured persons’ needs. The success of a trauma system is largely determined by the degree to which it is supported by public policy.
Robust trauma systems are effective. There is a demonstrated 15-20% improved survival rate for patients who are injured in an established trauma system. Care of the injured patient that is delivered at a trauma center hospital is associated with less morbidity and mortality than non-trauma center hospitals. A significant decrease of “preventable” deaths among the severely injured has been identified in regions with an established and functioning trauma system.
Wyoming Trauma Program Newsletter
Wyoming Trauma Program Newsletter Archives - 2020
Wyoming Trauma Program Newsletter Archives - 2019
Wyoming Trauma Program Rules
Since 1993 when the Wyoming legislature passed enabling legislation for the development of a statewide trauma system, the OEMS has taken the lead in trauma system development. Assisted by federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA, a broad based coalition of key players was established to assist the OEMS in the Trauma System Program rules. Please see below for more information on the Trauma Program Statutes and Rules.
W.S. 35-1-801. Department of health to develop comprehensive emergency medical services and trauma system.
The department of health shall develop a comprehensive emergency medical services and trauma system.
W.S. 35-1-802. Designation of trauma areas; trauma system hospitals.
(a) The department of health shall designate within the state trauma areas consistent with local resources, geography and current patient referral patterns.
(b) Each trauma area shall have:
(i) Medical control for all field care and transportation consistent with geographic and current communications capability;
(ii) Specified triage protocols;
(iii) Hospitals categorized according to existing standards of the department.
(c) On and after July 1, 1993, the department may designate trauma system hospitals in areas that meet state objectives and standards.
(d) On or after July 1, 1994, the department may implement area trauma system plans.
W.S. 35-1-803. Trauma system hospitals designation
Applications to be categorized or designated as trauma system hospitals shall be made upon forms provided by the department of health.
W.S. 35-1-804. Department of health to promulgate rules; contents
The department shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations which specify state trauma system objectives and standards, hospital categorization criteria and criteria and procedures to be utilized in designating trauma system hospitals and for the prevention of trauma and injuries. The rules shall be in conformance with the most current standards of the American college of surgeons committee on trauma standards, but may be expanded into further categories.
W.S. 35-1-805. Duties of the department of health
The department of health shall identify the causes of trauma in Wyoming and propose programs of prevention thereof for consideration by the legislature, health care providers and other agencies concerned with accident prevention or aftercare.