The Alliance to Save Florida's Trauma Care

Formed in 2003 by Florida’s Trauma Center Hospital CEOs, the Alliance to Save Florida’s Trauma Care is working to establish a well-coordinated and financially healthy trauma system. The care provided at trauma centers can mean the difference between life and death, or the difference between recovery and permanent injury.

Background
Florida’s trauma system was created in 1982 when the Legislature passed the state’s first trauma legislation. In 1982, there were 50 trauma centers, but by 1986, only 33 remained. In 1987, it was evident that there were financial problems facing Florida’s trauma care providers. Florida’s Healthcare Cost Containment Board (HCCB) was directed by the Florida Legislature to determine the financial magnitude of the problem and recommend solutions. The HCCB study showed that 66 hospitals lost approximately $41 million treating trauma patients. The HCCB recommended several general actions—including increasing motor vehicle registration fees—to alleviate the trauma care financial problems.

The Alliance to Save Florida's Trauma Care was formed in response to the financial crisis that Florida's trauma system faces. In 2004, the Alliance created a campaign called Save Florida's Trauma Care: It's Critical. In 2005, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1264/ House Bill 497, increasing the red light running penalty from $65 to $125 with increases going to Florida’s 21 trauma centers.

Florida Trauma Centers
Florida currently has 21 trauma centers. This includes seven Level I centers, 12 Level II centers and two pediatric trauma centers.

Level I: State-designated center capable of delivering the highest level of expertise and care in the shortest possible time, with capabilities that far exceed a non-trauma center.

Broward General Medical Center (Ft. Lauderdale); Jackson Memorial Hospital/Ryder Trauma Center (Miami) ;  Memorial Regional Hospital (Hollywood) ;  Orlando Regional Medical Center ;   Shands Hospital at the University of Florida (Gainesville) ;  Shands Jacksonville Medical Center ;  Tampa General Hospital 

Level II: Facility that provides initial trauma care, regardless of the injury, with physician subspecialists promptly available.

Baptist Hospital Pensacola ; Bayfront Medical Center (St. Petersburg) ;  Delray Medical Center (Delray Beach) ;  Halifax Medical Center (Daytona Beach) ;  Holmes Regional Medical Center (Melbourne) ;  Lakeland Regional Medical Center ;   Lee Memorial Hospital (Ft. Myers) ;  North Broward Medical Center (Pompano Beach) ;  Sacred Heart Hospital (Pensacola) ;  St. Joseph’s Hospital of Tampa ;  St. Mary’s Medical Center (West Palm Beach) ;  West Florida Hospital (Pensacola) 

Pediatric: Facility that must provide a pediatric emergency department, pediatric resuscitation equipment in all patient areas, and a Pediatric ICU. All Children’s Hospital (St. Petersburg) ; Miami Children’s Hospital 

Trauma Center Fast Facts

 * According to the National Vital Statistics Report (2001), unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States—after heart disease, cancer, stroke, and lung disease.


 * Trauma injuries are the number one cause of death in the United States for those under the age of 37.


 * Every four seconds someone is injured and every six minutes someone will die from a trauma injury.


 * The “Golden Hour” is the time from the point of injury to the receiving of definitive care. It is statistically proven that getting care within the first hour of injury drastically increases chance of survival.


 * Trauma centers have teams ready to treat critically injured patients as they arrive—every minute matters, especially within the first “Golden Hour.”


 * Mortality rates increase by 15-20 percent when a seriously injured patient is treated at a non-trauma center.

Legislative Forecast
The Alliance to Save Florida's Trauma Care is currently supporting actions to pass legislation to allow red light cameras to be placed at red lights in order to prevent trauma injuries. This legislation will also aid in trauma center funding through assisting law enforcement officers in identifying and fining red light offenders. The Alliance is also currently supporting the continuance of Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) requirement.