The statewide trauma system

The 86th General Assembly was unable to agree on a funding mechanism for a statewide trauma system. Driving through east Texas yesterday, you can see the benefits of the Texas trauma system, which was established by the Texas Legislature in 1989. The Texas Legislature recognized that trauma is now recognized as the number one killer of children and young adults, and that the effects of trauma morbidity and mortality also contribute to its being the most expensive disease for all people of all ages in terms of hospitalization and disability. Their legislation divided the state into 22 Trauma Service Areas that account for the 254 counties in Texas. The levels of care are divided into four types of facilities:

• Level I: Comprehensive Trauma Facility
• Level II: Major Trauma Facility
• Level III: General Trauma Facility
• Level IV: Basic Trauma Facility

As you can see above, communities like Gilmer (about the size of Nashville or Ashdown) have facilities and personnel that participate in the system. If the level of trauma is such that the patient requires additional trauma resources, a patient in this facility can be transported 40 miles to the region's Level I trauma center in Tyler.