Virginia Hastings, Executive Director Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (Inyo, Mono and San Bernardino Counties) September 21, 2009

California Trauma System Summit II Local EMS Agencies Perspectives PLANNING FOR REGIONALIZATION  Need identified 8 – 10 years ago  “California’s Trauma Care: In Crisis” (2002)  Trauma Advisory Committee Recommendations and Planning  SB 261 – Romero (2007) NOT ENACTED Mandated Regionalization Mandated State Registry EMSA estimated its costs at $450,000 Included funding for local agencies to fund intercounty transfers EMSA/LEMSA agree voluntarily to regionalize to improve patient care, although no funding provided  EMSA grants for Registry and Regional meetings

California Trauma System Summit II Local EMS Agencies Perspectives PERSPECTIVES  Polled all LEMSA’s  What’s working / not working  Strengths / Weaknesses  Commitments / Suggestions  Nearly identical responses from all LEMSA’s

California Trauma System Summit II Local EMS Agencies Perspectives STRENGTHS  Commitment to regionalization  Communications of all participants  Improved partnering  Gap analysis  Tackling “short term” issues immediately

California Trauma System Summit II Local EMS Agencies Perspectives SIMILARITIES  Assessment of resources  Standardization of triage criteria  Standardization of QI filters  Standardization of registries  Funding / Repatriation

California Trauma System Summit II Local EMS Agencies Perspectives ISSUES / PROBLEMS  Geography barrier to participation in large regions  Time commitments  Sustainment of commitments Budget Reductions Furloughs Heavier workloads Travel reductions  Continued funding for planning from EMSA

California Trauma System Summit II Local EMS Agencies Perspectives ISSUES / PROBLEMS (continued)  Funding for uninsured  Physician availability  Transportation availability – particularly in rural areas  Absence of regulatory requirement to participate

California Trauma System Summit II Local EMS Agencies Perspectives RECOMMENDATIONS  Update of State Trauma Planning Document to describe current regional models and planning  Continuation and increase in EMSA trauma funding to sustain commitment  Acquire a planning coordinator for each region  Access to technical experts, e.g. ACS system consultant teams

California Trauma System Summit II Local EMS Agencies Perspectives LEMSA’S OVERALL PERSPECTIVE LET’S KEEP MOVING !!!