Section 147A.23. Trauma care system development.

  1.  The department is designated as a lead agency in this state responsible for the development of a statewide trauma care system.

  2.  The department, in consultation with the trauma system advisory council, shall develop, coordinate, and monitor a statewide trauma care system. This system shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

  a.  The categorization of all hospitals and emergency care facilities by the department as to their capacity to provide trauma care services. The categorization shall be determined by the department from self-reported information provided to the department by the hospital or emergency care facility. This categorization shall not be construed to imply any guarantee on the part of the department as to the level of trauma care services available at the hospital or emergency care facility.

  b.  The issuance of a certificate of verification of all categorized hospitals and emergency care facilities from the department at the level preferred by the hospital or emergency care facility. The standards and verification process shall be established by rule and may vary as appropriate by level of trauma care capability. To the extent possible, the standards and verification process shall be coordinated with other applicable accreditation and licensing standards.

  c.  Upon verification and the issuance of a certificate of verification, a hospital or emergency care facility agrees to maintain a level of commitment and resources sufficient to meet responsibilities and standards as required by the trauma care criteria established by rule under this subchapter. Verifications are valid for a period of three years or as determined by the department and are renewable. As part of the verification and renewal process, the department may conduct periodic on-site reviews of the services and facilities of the hospital or emergency care facility.

  d.  The department is responsible for the funding of the administrative costs of this subchapter. Any funds received by the department for this purpose shall be deposited in the emergency medical services fund established in section 135.25.

  e.  This section shall not be construed to limit the number and distribution of level I, II, III, and IV categorized and verified trauma care facilities in a community or region.

95 Acts, ch 40, §4