PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-976-485 through 246-976-887, amending EMS and trauma system's (EMS and TS) trauma service designation rules and standards for adult and pediatric trauma care services and trauma rehabilitation services.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.168.050 and 70.168.060.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is opening emergency medical services' trauma service designation and rehabilitation rules for adult and pediatric services to ensure regulations and standards are clear, concise, and current for the benefit and safety of the public. Issues that will be reviewed include, but are not limited to, the expanded use of mid-level providers in trauma service designation facilities, clarifying roles of Level IV and V facilities, and formalizing performance expectations of each level of trauma service. The governor's steering committee for emergency medical services and trauma system published a strategic plan that requires inclusion of new objectives, which these rules revisions will support.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other federal or state agencies regulate this subject.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making - EMS and TS committees, subcommittees, key stakeholders, constituents, and interested public citizens will be able to participate in the review and drafting of proposed language through open public meetings, mailings, and e-mails posted to the department of health rules comment web site. Public workshops will be held statewide to ensure maximum opportunity for public input into the rule-making process. The department shall assure an opportunity for consultation, review, and comment by the public and EMS providers as stipulated by RCW 70.168.050.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Maura Craig, Legislative and Policy Analyst, Division of Health Systems Quality Assurance, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504-7850, e-mail maura.craig@doh.wa.gov, phone (360) 236-4987, fax (360) 236-2829. The department will notify all licensees, organizations, and private citizens who have expressed an interest in rule-making activities. Interested parties may also submit written comments for the department's consideration.
August 28, 2008
Mary C. Selecky
Secretary