The Wyoming Trauma Program’s mission and guiding vision are to promote optimal care of the injured patient from the time of injury through rehabilitation by establishing, enhancing, and maintaining effective emergency medical & trauma care systems.
Trauma System in Wyoming
For a seriously injured person, the time between sustaining an injury and receiving definitive care may be a critical factor in survival. The chance of survival diminishes with time, but a trauma system can improve the chances of survival through shortened transit times and appropriate trauma care.
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 person’s 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 delivered at a trauma center hospital is associated with less morbidity and mortality than at non-trauma center hospitals. A significant decrease in “preventable” deaths among the severely injured has been identified in regions with an established and functioning trauma system.
Wyoming Trauma Program Rules
Wyo. Stat. § 35-1-801 authorized the Wyoming Department of Health to proceed with the development of a statewide trauma system whose goal is to reduce the epidemic of injury, disability, and death in Wyoming for all ages. Trauma is the leading cause of death for those between the ages 1-44. The Trauma Program is housed in the Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS).
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.
Wyo. Stat. § 35-1-801
Department of Health to develop comprehensive emergency medical services and trauma system
Wyo. Stat. § 35-1-802
Designation of trauma areas; trauma system hospitals
Wyo. Stat. § 35-1-803
Trauma system hospitals designation
Wyo. Stat. § 35-1-804
Department of Health to promulgate rules; contents
Wyo. Stat. § 35-1-805
Duties of the Department of Health