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Governor signs Wyss bill seeking trauma patient protocol
Senate Enrolled Act 249 could reduce confusion, save lives
STATEHOUSE – When trauma happens, there’s little time for talk.
That’s why Gov. Mitch Daniels’ signing of Senate Enrolled Act 249 earlier this month could ultimately save lives. Sen. Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne) authored the legislation which requires the 11-member Emergency Medical Services Commission to adopt rules concerning triage and transportation protocols of trauma patients.
“What we’ve seen happen is trauma patients taken to a hospital not equipped to respond, due to the severity of injuries,” Wyss explained. “Obviously, time lost in trauma cases can greatly affect a patient’s chance of survival. We want all medical personnel in these situations to have a protocol to follow so they know where a patient should go.”
Wyss and Dr. Mary Aaland, medical director of trauma services at Fort Wayne’s Parkview Hospital, both serve on the Indiana State Trauma Task Force Committee.
Volume of trauma patients has nearly doubled at Parkview Hospital in the past ten years. In 2005, the hospital reported 1,651 cases – with 1,056 of those described as “major.” That’s in significant contrast to statistics from 1996, when the hospital reported 1,114 trauma cases, 658 of those being “major.”
With few exceptions, the number of trauma cases has grown at the hospital every year since 1996.
“We are pleased the state legislature has taken a proactive step toward better patient care for trauma patients,” Aaland said. “As northeast Indiana’s only verified trauma center, Parkview Hospital supports initiatives aimed at enhancing treatment options for patients. Sen. Wyss’ commitment to trauma services and public health is to be commended.”
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(Sen. Tom Wyss represents District 15 in the Indiana Senate, which covers portions of Allen County). |
