South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-116 - SOUTH CAROLINA TRAUMA CARE SYSTEMS
Sec2 61-116.100 - DEFINITIONS

A. Bypass. A medical protocol or request for the transport of an EMS patient past a normally used EMS receiving facility to an alternate medical facility for the purpose of accessing more readily available or appropriate medical care.

B. Certificate. A document issued by the Department to a hospital that denotes the trauma designation level thereof, as determined by the Department subject to the provisions of this regulation.

C. Certificate Holder. The hospital that has received a certificate to provide trauma care from the Department and with whom rests the ultimate responsibility for compliance with this regulation.

D. Department. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

E. Designation. The formal determination by the Department that a hospital is capable of providing a specified level of trauma care services.

F. Emergency Department. The area of a licensed general acute care hospital that customarily receives patients in need of emergency medical evaluation and/or care.

G. Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The treatment and transport of patients in crisis health situations, occurring from a medical emergency or from an accident, natural disaster, or similar situation, that may be life threatening, through a system of coordinated response and emergency medical care.

H. Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. Emergency Medical Services council created pursuant to S.C. Code Section 44-61-30(C).

I. Facility. A trauma center having a certificate of designation by the Department.

J. Field Triage. Classification of patients according to medical need at the scene of an injury or onset of an illness.

K. Glasgow Coma Scale. A standardized system for assessing response to stimuli in a neurologically impaired patient by assessing eye opening, verbal responsiveness, and motor ability.

L. Hospital. A facility licensed by the Department and organized and administered to provide medical or surgical care or nursing care of illness, injury, or infirmity and in which all diagnoses, treatment, or care is administered by or under the direction of persons currently licensed to practice medicine, surgery, or osteopathy.

M. Injury. The result of an act that damages, harms, or hurts; unintentional or intentional damage to the body resulting from acute exposure to thermal, mechanical, electrical or chemical energy or from the absence of such essentials as heat or oxygen.

N. Injury Prevention. Efforts to reduce or prevent incidents that might result in injuries.

O. Level I. Hospitals that have met the requirements for Level I as stated in Section 204 of this regulation and are designated by the Department.

P. Level I Pediatric. Hospitals that have met the Level I criteria along with the required pediatric criteria, and are designated as "Level I Pediatric" by the Department.

Q. Level II. Hospitals that have met the requirements for Level II as stated in Section 204 of this regulation and are designated by the Department.

R. Level II Pediatric. Hospitals that have met the Level II criteria along with the required pediatric criteria, and are designated as "Level II Pediatric" by the Department.

S. Level III. Hospitals that have met the requirements for Level III as stated in Section 204 of this regulation and are designated as "Level III" by the Department.

T. Level IV. Hospitals that have met the requirements for Level IV and are designated as "Level IV" by the Department.

U. Licensed Nurse. An individual licensed by the South Carolina Board of Nursing as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.

V. Medical Control. On-line or off-line physician direction over pre-hospital activities to ensure efficient and proficient trauma triage, transportation, and care, as well as ongoing quality assurance.

W. Participating Providers. Those providers who have been approved by the Department for participation in the trauma system and include, but are not limited to, designated trauma centers, designated rehabilitation facilities, and designated fee-for-service physicians who provide trauma care within a designated facility.

X. Performance Improvement (PI) Programs. A method of monitoring, evaluating and improving processes of patient care that emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. These activities are concordant with the Institute of Medicines six (6) quality aims for patient care: safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. (ACS P.114).

Y. Physician. An individual currently licensed as such by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners.

Z. Rehabilitation. Services that seek to return a trauma patient to the fullest physical, psychological, social, vocational, and educational level of functioning of which he or she is capable, consistent with physiological or anatomical impairments and environmental limitations.

AA. Repeat Violation. The recurrence of any violation cited under the same section of the regulation.

BB. Revocation of Certificate and Designation. An action by the Department to cancel or annul a certificate and designation by recalling, withdrawing, or rescinding its authority to operate.

CC. South Carolina Trauma Plan. An organized plan developed by the Department pursuant to legislative directive that sets out a comprehensive system of prevention, management, and rehabilitation of traumatic injuries.

DD. State Medical Director (or "State Medical Control Physician"). A South Carolina board-certified physician responsible for providing medical oversight to the Department.

EE. State Trauma Advisory Council (or "TAC"). The Department's advisory committee regarding trauma related issues.

FF. State Trauma Registry. A statewide database of information collected by the Department including, but not limited to, the incidence, severity, and causes of trauma and the care and outcomes.

GG. Suspension of Certificate and Designation. An action by the Department terminating the certificate holder's authority to provide trauma care services for a period of time until such time as the Department rescinds that restriction.

HH. Traumatic Injury. Injury or wound to a person caused by the application of an external force or by violence and requiring medical or surgical intervention to prevent death or disability. For the purposes of this regulation, the definition of "trauma" shall be determined by current national medical standards including, but not limited to, injury severity scales.

II. Trauma Care Facility (or "trauma center"). A hospital designated by the Department to provide trauma care services at a particular level.

JJ. Trauma Care Region. A geographic area of the state formally organized in accordance with standards promulgated by the Department and is coterminous with the Department EMS regions.

KK. Trauma Care System. An organized statewide and regional system of care for the trauma patient, including the Department, emergency medical service providers, hospitals, in-patient rehabilitation providers, and other providers who have agreed to participate in and coordinate with and who have been accepted by the Department in an organized statewide system.

LL. Trauma Patient. A patient who presents with acute bodily injuries secondary to an external force requiring immediate intervention deemed necessary to preserve life and limb.

MM. Trauma Program. An administrative unit that includes the trauma service and coordinates other trauma-related activities, including, but not limited to, injury prevention and public education.

NN. Trauma Program Manager. A designated individual with responsibility for coordination of all activities of the trauma program who works in collaboration with the trauma medical director.

OO. Trauma Medical Director. A physician designated by the facility and medical staff to coordinate trauma care.

PP. Trauma System Fund. The separate fund established pursuant to this regulation for the Department to create and administer the State Trauma System.

QQ. Trauma Team. A group of health care professionals organized to provide coordinated and timely care to the trauma patient.

RR. Triage. The process of sorting injured patients on the basis of the actual or perceived degree of injury and assigning them to the most effective and efficient regional care resources in order to insure optimal care and the best chance of survival.

SS. Verification. The inspection of a participating facility in order to determine whether the facility is capable of providing a designated level of trauma care.