HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1713

BYRepresentatives 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

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Bristow, Brooks, Bumgarner, Cantwell, Lux, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.

House Staff:Bill Hagens (786-7131)

Rereferred House Committee on Transportation

Majority Report:  The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Doty, Fisher, Fox, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Jacobsen, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, Smith, D. Sommers, J. Williams, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:      Robin Rettew (786-7306)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION FEBRUARY 3, 1988

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 the commitment of hospital personnel to be available to respond to the hospital to treat the major trauma victim.

The care provided to the trauma victim is at times initially delayed due to long response times of the first responders.  The wide spectrum of terrain as well as the dependence upon volunteer responders can put a lengthy burden on the system.  Once the victim is stabilized in the field, the transport time to the local facility may be in excess of 1 to 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:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The bill establishes legislative intent. It mandates an analysis of the state's present trauma system and creates a steering committee. The bill requires the Office of Fiscal Management (OFM), upon the recommendation of the steering committee, to contract with an independent party to analyze a state trauma system; it also sets forth the content of the analysis. A trauma care system trust account is established in the state treasury; disbursement shall 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. The bill places a $2 surcharge on drivers' licenses; funds to be deposited in the trust account. The bill appropriates $250,000 for analysis.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  References nurses and hospital personnel as members of the steering committee.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION:  The bill creates a steering committee which will recommend an independent party to analyze the state's trauma system.  The Trauma Care System Trust Account in the State Treasury is created.  Monies shall be transferred to the Account from the Public Safety Education Account, or other sources, as appropriated.  If a state trauma care system is not created by June 30, 1992, the fund shall revert to the Highway Safety Fund.

Appropriation:    $250,000 to the state treasury.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 20, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Health Care)  Janet Griffith, DSHS; Dr. Lothar Pinkers, Washington State Medical Association; Susie Tracy, Washington State Medical Association, Washington Ambulance Association; Steve Hubbard, American Ambulance Association; Sheryl Robinson, St. Lukes Hospital; Susan Sheehy, Tacoma Fire Department; Robb Menaul, Washington State Hospital Association; Tom Richburg, North Central EMS Council; John Sinclair, Washington State Council of Firefighters; William L. Sieg, Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs; Dr. Mike Copass, Harborview Medical Center Emergency Room; Ronald Maier, American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma.

(Transportation)  Susie Tracy, Washington State Medical Association and Washington Ambulance Association; Janet Griffith, Emergency Medical Services, Department of Social and Health Services; Lothar Pinkers, Washington State Medical Association; Susan Budassi Sheehy, Tacoma Fire Department; Michael Copass, Harborview Medical Center; John Sinclair, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Health Care)  None Presented.

(Transportation)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Health Care)  Such analysis is needed to address current deficiencies within the state's trauma system.

(Transportation)  Many emergency room cases are the result of traffic accidents.  Establishing a dedicated account to fund the study and possible implementation of a state trauma care system should be considered by the Transportation Committee.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Health Care)  None Presented.

(Transportation)  None Presented.