W. Va. Code R. § 64-27-9 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Trauma and Emergency Care System Organization and Operation

9.1. Pursuant to W. Va. Code § 55-7B-9c, the organization and operation of the state trauma and emergency care system shall be integrated with the existing emergency medical services system.

9.2. The lead agency for the trauma and emergency care system is OEMS within the Department. As the lead agency for the system, OEMS shall develop and implement policies and procedures necessary to carry out the operation and management of the state trauma and emergency care system, including but not limited to: trauma center designation; facility categorization, system design, and operation; medical review and audit for performance improvement and quality assurance; and development and enforcement of triage, transfer, and emergency procedures guidelines.

9.3. The advisory councils for the trauma and emergency care system shall be the EMSAC and the STAC. Their duties are to advise OEMS and the Secretary in all matters relating to the trauma and emergency care system as follows:

9.3.1. The STAC members shall:

9.3.1.a. Include at a minimum: the Chair and Vice-chair of the West Virginia State Committee of the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma (WV ACS-COT); the immediate past chair of the WV ACS-COT; the trauma medical director of-all designated level I, II, and III facilities; a physician from the West Virginia Chapter of-the American College of Emergency Physicians; a hospital administrator; an aeromedical medical director; a medical director and an additional representative of a level IV designated trauma center; a rural hospital representative; a registered nurse trauma program manager; a trauma registrar; a pediatric surgeon; a paramedic with trauma care experience; a consumer member from the general public; and other members as recommended by STAC and appointed by the state EMS medical director; and

9.3.1.b. Be appointed by the state EMS medical director from a list of potential appointees submitted by the STAC. The STAC shall solicit potential appointees from the various agencies or organizations who have representation on the STAC and then recommend appointments to the state EMS medical director from those names. A list of potential appointees for the hospital administrator and rural hospital representative may be submitted to the STAC by the West Virginia Hospital Association; and

9.3.1.c. Be appointed for a term of three years. Members may be reappointed if recommended by the STAC to the state EMS medical director;

9.3.2. The STAC shall:

9.3.2.a. Recommend procedures and guidelines for the formation and administration of a state trauma and emergency care system;

9.3.2.b. Recommend policies and procedures governing the evaluation, designation, and re-designation of state trauma centers;

9.3.2.c. Establish the credentials and serve as the central resource pool of individuals for appointment by the state EMS medical director to serve on site visit teams;

9.3.2.d. Recommend and evaluate data collection needs for quality improvement, medical review, and planning purposes for the system;

9.3.2.e. Serve as the main liaison for activities between the West Virginia Committee ACS-COT and OEMS;

9.3.2.f. Explore and seek additional funding sources to continue the development and maintenance of the state trauma and emergency care system;

9.3.2.g. Recommend policies and procedures necessary to carry out its duties; and

9.3.2.h. Undertake other duties as assigned by the OEMS director or medical director;

9.3.3. The council shall meet a minimum of twice a year.

9.4. Trauma and Emergency Care Regions. OEMS may establish policies and procedures governing the design, implementation, and operation of trauma and emergency care regions as part of the state trauma and emergency care system. The policies and procedures governing these regions shall include, but are not be limited, to: administration and support within the region; funding and operation; establishment of lead trauma hospitals; and coordination and development of funding mechanisms.

9.5. Medical Direction. The OEMS Medical Direction System shall provide medical direction for all aspects of the state trauma and emergency care system.

9.5.1. The state EMS medical director may appoint additional members to the State MPCC as may be necessary to assure proper input from specific specialists or agencies and to assure proper integration of the trauma and EMS system statewide, as required in W. Va. Code § 55-7B-9c.

9.5.2. The OEMS medical direction system in conjunction with facilities supporting medical command and interested designated trauma centers shall establish a centralized resource center to coordinate and manage the resources necessary for efficient, effective, and accurate triage, transfer, and treatment of the seriously injured or ill patients in the state. The resource center shall at a minimum:

9.5.2.a. Monitor and manage a statewide tracking system of facility resources and diversion status to ensure proper patient triage and appropriate destination decisions;

9.5.2.b. Provide for the coordination of urgent and emergent inter-facility transfers of trauma and seriously ill patients within the system including aeromedical and critical care ground transport;

9.5.2.c. Coordinate the resources necessary for effective triage and transfer of injured or ill patients from the scene of an incident or from health care facilities throughout the state to the closest appropriate facility, based on established triage and transfer guidelines developed by the medical direction system;

9.5.2.d. Develop the capability to assist or provide online medical command to EMS field units as may be requested or required by OEMS medical direction system;

9.5.2.e. Assist in the collection and management of patient care information for purposes of public health operation and monitoring including the performance improvement and quality assurance medical review process as outlined section 10 of this rule;

9.5.2.f. Collaborate with health care providers, facilities, and other interested parties to identify and seek funding to support the medical command system and resource center components of the trauma and emergency care system; and

9.5.2.g. Develop policies and procedures necessary to carry out its duties.

9.5.3. The State MPCC shall develop and recommend written protocols specifying the standards for triage and emergency health care procedures for the trauma and emergency care system pursuant to W. Va. Code § 55-7B-9c(g) and (h).

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 64-27-9