6 Colo. Code Regs. § 1015-4-405
Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, June 10, 2024
Section 6 CCR 1015-4-405 - RETAC Emergency Medical and Trauma System Biennial Plan Requirements1. On July 1 of every odd numbered year, each RETAC, with the approval from the governing bodies for the RETAC, must prepare a Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Services System Plan to create and maintain coordinated, integrated emergency medical and trauma system services throughout the region. The Department shall provide technical assistance to any RETAC for preparation, implementation, and modification of the plan. The plan shall be submitted to SEMTAC for evaluation. Once SEMTAC has determined the plan is adequate, it will make a recommendation to the Department for approval. The plan shall be submitted in the form and manner required by the Department, based on the advice from SEMTAC. If the RETAC fails to submit a plan, does not include a county and/or city and county within their region in the plan, or the plan is not approved through the evaluation process established by SEMTAC, the Department shall design a plan for the RETAC.2. In developing the biennial plan, the RETAC shall review data collected from sources such as, but not limited to, county plans, SEMTAC plans, organizational profiles, financial reports, and strategic planning documents.3. The biennial plan shall be comprised of two sections: system components and statutory requirements. A. One section of every biennial plan shall include the system components listed below. Each plan component, at a minimum, shall address the current level of activity within that component: (1) Integration of health services - Activities to improve patient care through collaborative efforts among health related agencies, facilities, and organizations within the region. The desired outcome of this component is to improve the system by encouraging groups involved in EMTS to work with other entities (e.g., health related, state, local, and private agencies and institutions); share expertise; evaluate and make recommendations; and mutually address and solve problems within the region.(2) EMTS research - Determines the effectiveness and efficiency of the EMTS system through scientific investigation. A continuous and comprehensive effort to validate current EMTS system practices in an effort to improve patient care, determine the appropriate allocation of resources, and prevent injury and illness and ultimately death and disability.(3) Legislation and regulation - Issues related to legislation, regulation, and policy that affect all components of the EMTS system. This component defines the level of authority and responsibility for system planning, implementation, and evaluation.(4) System finance - Defines the financial resources necessary to develop and maintain a quality EMTS system.(5) Human resource - The acquisition of knowledge and skills, recruitment, and retention of providers are priorities for a quality EMTS system.(6) Education systems - Includes the education and training of all providers within the EMTS system and includes efforts to coordinate and evaluate programs to ensure they meet the needs of the EMTS system.(7) Public access - Includes all means by which users can access the 911 system. This component also includes the provisions of pre-arrival instructions provided by emergency medical dispatchers.(8) Evaluation - A process of assessing the attributes (system integration and components) of the EMTS system to ensure that continual improvement can be designed and implemented.(9) Communications system - The efficient transfer of information by voice and data occurring between dispatch centers, EMTS providers, physicians, facilities, public safety agencies, and patients seeking care through emergency medical dispatch. Includes EMTS system communications interoperability within and outside the region for multicasualty incidents.(10) Medical direction - Supervision and direction of patient care within the EMTS system by qualified and authorized physicians, including the medical communities' involvement in maintaining quality of care through accepted standards of medical practice through innovation.(11) Clinical care - Clinical methods, technologies, and delivery systems utilized in providing emergency medical and trauma services in and out of the hospital that includes: emerging community health services, rescue services, and mass casualty management.(12) Mass casualty - Defines the responsibility and authority for planning, coordination, and infrastructure for all medical care during incidents where the normal capacity to respond is exceeded.(13) Public education - Includes the public's involvement in learning experiences to promote and encourage good health and reduce morbidity and mortality.(14) Prevention - Solutions designed through data collection and analysis, education, and intervention strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality related to intentional and unintentional injury and illness.(15) Information systems - The collection of data and analysis as a tool to monitor and evaluate the EMTS system. Information systems are key to providing a means of improving the effectiveness and integration of healthcare delivery.B. The other section of every biennial plan shall address the following issues, as required by statute. (1) Those regional factors that impact the provision of minimum services and care to sick and injured patients at the most appropriate facility. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following:a. Interfacility transfer agreements and protocols used by facilities to move patients to higher levels of care.b. Facility-defined triage and transport plans to be developed by all facilities within the RETAC.c. Geographical barriers to the transportation of patients.d. Population density challenges to providing care.e. Out-of-hospital resources within the region for the treatment and transportation of sick and injured persons.f. Accessibility to designated trauma facilities within and outside the region.(2) The level of commitment of each of the member counties and/or city and counties. Commitment includes, but may not be limited to, the following:a. Cooperation among county and local organizations in the development and implementation of the statewide emergency medical and trauma care system.b. Participation and representation within the RETAC(s).c. Dedicated financial and in-kind resources for regional systems development.d. Cooperation among county and local organizations in the development and implementation of a coordinated statewide communications system.(3) Methods for ensuring facility, agency, and county, and/or city and county adherence to the RETAC emergency medical and trauma services system plan. Methods shall include, but not be limited to, the following:a. A compliance reporting process as defined by SEMTAC and the Department.b. A continuing quality improvement system as defined by SEMTAC and the Department.(4) Description of public information, education, and prevention programs used within the region to reduce illness and injury.(5) Any function of the RETAC accomplished through contracted services.(6) Identification of regional emergency medical and trauma system needs through the use of a needs assessment instrument developed by the Department; except that the use of such instrument shall be subject to approval by the counties and/or city and counties included in a RETAC. Approval by the counties and/or city and counties shall not be unreasonably withheld.(7) A description of the following communications system issues: a. Communication method in place to ensure citizen access to emergency and medical trauma services through the 911 telephone system or its local equivalent.b. Primary communication method for dispatch of personnel who respond to provide prehospital care.c. Communication methods used between ambulances and other responders and between ambulances and designated and nondesignated facilities.d. Communication methods used among trauma facilities and between facilities and other medical care facilities.e. Communication methods used among service agencies to coordinate prehospital and day-to-day requests for service during multicasualty (disaster) activities.f. Communication methods used among counties and RETACS to coordinate prehospital and day-to-day requests for service and during multicasualty (disaster) activities.(8) Each biennial plan shall identify the key resource facilities for the region.39 CR 02, January 25, 2016, effective 2/14/201640 CR 08, April 25, 2017, effective 5/15/201741 CR 22, November 25, 2018, effective 12/15/201842 CR 10, May 25, 2019, effective 6/14/201943 CR 09, May 10, 2020, effective 6/14/202044 CR 10, May 25, 2021, effective 7/1/2021