§ 23-4.1-15. Trauma system advisory committee. There is established within the department of health a trauma system advisory committee. The committee, appointed by the director, shall include representatives of the following groups: consumers, third-party payers, emergency medical technicians, hospitals, physicians, nurses, the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, the department of health, the ambulance service advisory board, emergency medical service providers, and the Rhode Island Medical Society. Each nonprofit hospital with an emergency medical service shall have a representative appointed by its president. In addition, there shall be two (2) members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, and two (2) members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party. Subject to the limitations of existing data and other resources, the committee shall undertake a thorough examination of all aspects of the state's trauma system, including:

(1) A review of the current utilization of trauma services for each acute care hospital;

(2) A review of each hospital's trauma patient mix and mortality and morbidity rates for classes of patients;

(3) Hospital staffing patterns and likely future needs;

(4) The current financing of trauma care including the issue of uncompensated care and an examination of additional costs for system enhancement; and

(5) Pre-hospital care protocols and emergency medical services' capabilities and integration needs.

History of Section. (P.L. 1993, ch. 375, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 180, § 39.)