Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 15 - Mississippi Department of Health
Part 8 - Office of Health Policy and Planning
Subpart 90 - Planning and Resource Development
Chapter 05 - Acute Care Facilities and Services Overview
Section 15-8-90-05-519 - Mississippi Trauma Care System
Section 15-8-90-05-519.01 - Organization
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-59-5(5), establishes MSDH as the lead agency to develop a uniform, non-fragmented, inclusive statewide Trauma Care System, that provides excellent patient care. Through the State Trauma Plan, MSDH has designated seven trauma care regions; each incorporated as a 501c-3 organization which contracts with MSDH to administer the plan within their respective region. The State Trauma Plan includes the seven regional plans, allows for transfer protocols between trauma facilities, and for trauma patients to be transported to the "most appropriate" trauma facility for their injuries.
To increase participation in the Trauma Care System, the Mississippi Legislature enacted legislation (House Bill 1405) in 2008, which required MSDH to develop regulations mandating all licensed acute-care facilities participate in the Mississippi Trauma Care System ("Play or Pay"). Hospitals must participate at a level commensurate with their capabilities or pay a non-participation fee to the Trauma Care Trust Fund. Each hospital's capability to participate in the Trauma Care System is reviewed annually by their respective Trauma Care Region and MSDH, which determines the appropriate level of participation and any associated fee.
Trauma facility designation levels set specific criteria and standards of care that guide hospital and emergency personnel in determining the level of care a trauma victim needs, and whether that hospital can care for the patient or transfer the patient to a trauma center that can administer more definitive care.
Level I Trauma Centers must have a full range of trauma capabilities, including an emergency department, a full-service surgical suite, intensive care unit, and diagnostic imaging. Level I centers must have a surgical residency program, ongoing trauma research, and provide 24-hour trauma service. These hospitals provide a variety of other services to comprehensively care for trauma patients. Level I Trauma Centers act as referral facilities for Level II, III, and IV Trauma Centers. The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson is the only Level I facility in the state. Two Level I Trauma Centers border the northern and southeastern part of the state and are in Tennessee and Alabama. Additionally, a "stand-alone" Tertiary Pediatric Trauma Center located in Tennessee participates in the system.
Level II Trauma Centers must be able to provide comprehensive care to the severely injured patient. These facilities must have a full range of trauma capabilities, including an emergency department, a full-service surgical suite, an intensive care unit, and diagnostic imaging. Level II Trauma Centers act as referral facilities for Level III and IV Trauma Centers.
Level III Trauma Centers must offer general/trauma surgery and orthopedic surgery and have the ability to manage the initial care of multi-system trauma patients. Transfer protocols must be in place with Level I and II Trauma Centers for patients that exceed the Level III Trauma Center's resources.
Level IV Trauma Centers provide initial evaluation and assessment of injured patients. Most patients will require transfer to facilities with more resources dedicated to providing optimal care for the injured patients. Level IV Trauma Centers must have transfer protocols in place with Level I, II, and III Trauma Centers.
