FINAL BILL REPORT

2SHB 1713

                                  C 183 L 88

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Braddock, Ballard, Sprenkle, Vekich, Lux, Haugen, Holm, Sayan, Winsley, Anderson and Baugher)

Creating a committee to study and design a trauma care system for Washington.

House Committe on Health Care

Rereferred House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Presently there is not a statewide trauma care system in the state of Washington. The existing care has been described as fragmented and varied between the East and the West and between urban/metropolitan and rural areas.

A significant problem exists in rural areas where trauma care is often dependent upon volunteer pre-hospital care providers and upon the commitment of hospital personnel to be available to treat major trauma victims.

The care provided to a trauma victim is sometimes delayed by long response times of the first care provider.  The wide spectrum of terrain and the dependence upon volunteer responders burden the system.  Once a victim is stabilized in the field the transport time to a local facility may be in excess of 1-1/2 hours.  Also, the resources and expertise at the local facility may not be sophisticated enough to care for a severely injured patient.

SUMMARY:

An analysis of the state's present trauma system is mandated.  A steering committee is created to oversee the analysis. The Office of Financial Management (OFM), upon the recommendation of the steering committee, is to contract with an independent party to analyze a state trauma system.  A trauma care system trust account is established in the state treasury.  Disbursement is to be made by the director of OFM, subject to appropriation.  If a state trauma care system is not created, the fund shall revert to the highway safety fund.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 91   2

      Senate    49     0(Senate amended)

      House 94   0(House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988