BY KAREN BRYANT
Contributing Writer, Delta Business Journal

  Delta Regional Medical Center is among five hospitals in the state to be designated as a Level II regional trauma center by the Mississippi State Department of Health. The centers are part of the newly created Mississippi Trauma Care System, a statewide system made possible by the 1998 passage of a bill authorizing the Department of Health to develop such a
system. The bill also established a Trauma Care Trust Fund to provide funding for the system.
  As a designated trauma center, Delta Regional is part of a statewide network of trauma care centers that accept, stabilize and care for trauma patients with significant injuries. The new statewide network helps hospitals identify and better utilize trauma service that take advantage of the patients "Golden Hour," the most critical time for trauma patients to receive the care they need.
  Delta Regional has qualified as the only Level II designated center in its 19-hospital region. The State Department of Health gives Level II designations to facilities that are able to provide initial care to a severely injured patient.  Level II facilities must have a full range of trauma capabilities including an emergency department, a full-service surgical suite, intensive care unit and diagnostic imaging. For specialty care, a patient may be transferred to a Level I trauma center.  Areas evaluated for designation included administration, anesthesiology, emergency department, clinical laboratory, critical-care units, patient transfer agreements with other hospitals, pre-hospitalservices, quality improvement programs, radiology and surgery services.
  To the people in Mississippi, the Trauma Care System means 'Right Patient--Right Hospital-Right Time,' resulting in more lives being saved and the severity of injury being reduced in many cases," says Andy Etheridge, Trauma Nurse Coordinator.
  Trauma care systems target the seriously injured but improve injury care at all levels. The systems reduce preventable deaths - factually demonstrated by national studies. Mississippi Trauma Care System provides continuous care for initial injury detection through definitive care, which includes rehabilitation and injury control.
  Using specialized computer software, the trauma registry program provides a centralized information source for all trauma patients received by hospitals.
  The registry has reporting features that analyze data to help in recognizing trends, planning, reporting and training. The program facilitates the compilation requirements pertaining to trauma for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Facilities (JCAHO). It provides a financial summary of trauma patient payor sources, charges and collections. The cost of trauma care can be calculated based on these numbers. The program also provides quality improvement for trauma based on
standards suggested by the
  American College of Surgeons, the Emergency Nurses Association and JCAHO. By participating in the program, Delta Regional will be networked with other hospitals in the State Trauma Registry, providing a means to compare information with aggregate statewide data.
  The registry lets hospitals measure compliance of patients care against established standards. It allows review of all unexpected deaths; unexpected outcomes can be used to identify practitioners meriting educational and disciplinary measures. The registry also utilizes peer review, which attempts to minimize the recurrence of unexpected outcomes by improving standards.
  Bart Hove, CEO says, "The regional approcah guarantees local leadership within medical, political and consumer groups. It also provides the flexibility needed to address community and regional needs."
  In the areas of education and prevention, Delta Regional will work toward the program's ultimate goal of preventing injuries. As a designated trauma center, the hospital is part of a program to educate the community about the nature of injuries, the typical profile of trauma patients , how to safely approach an injury scene and how to provide assistance until
professional help arrives.
  Said State Health Officer Dr. Ed Thompson, "This preventive approach to trauma helps reduce the tragic loss of life or serious injury. Prevention is a good example of using safety practices in public health service. We hope that the ripple effect of this project will result in public awareness of the need to provide trauma prevention and education throughout the state."
  In conjunction with the program, a Trauma System link has been established at the State Department of Health's Web site: http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/. The site will be regularly updated with educational material that focuses on injury prevention and trauma care. The public can also call a statewide phone number, 203-2000, for round-the-clock health information. To access the information, users need only dial the number and when prompted, dial a four-digit code, 2008, to access trauma information. In addition, a public health information line, 1-800-489-7670, is available from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to answer public health questions.
  Says Thompson, "Trauma is known as a neglected disease. It is a major public health problem in Mississippi, claiming more than 2,000 people and disabling nearly 6,000 each year. That results in more than 50,000 years of potential life lost in our state alone. Our goal is to be sure that everyone in Mississippi has an organized system of trauma care that offers them excellent patient care and the best possible recovery."
  Delta Regional and the others that have received designation, he said, "have shown a true commitment to provide the level of care to trauma patients that they would desire for their own family, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to all patients, without exception."
  Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove said, "So many Mississippians' lives will be improved because of the designation of trauma care centers across the state. The role that these centers will have in our state is important as we further develop top-rated health-care options for the people of Mississippi."