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Indiana Trauma Transfer Guideline

Indiana Trauma Transfer Guideline Document 

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Key highlights of trauma and injury prevention for the state of Indiana are:

  • Injury is the leading cause of death for Hoosiers under the age of 45 and the fifth leading cause of death for Hoosiers of all ages.
  • Problems posed by injury are most acute in our rural areas.
  • A major way that states address the problem of trauma is through the design, implementation and oversight of a statewide trauma system. The ISDH has that statutory responsibility in Indiana.
  • Indiana has in place several elements of a statewide trauma system, but we don’t yet have what can honestly be described as a “system.” Other challenges with our current approach to trauma include:
    • We don’t have enough EMS providers, especially in rural areas.
    • There aren’t enough trauma centers.
    • At the state level, not all components of the trauma system are located in the same state agency.

    See the Trauma White Paper for more information about the trauma system in Indiana.

"In the Process of ACS Verification" Trauma Centers

Hospitals in Indiana that are working on becoming a verified trauma center can apply (under Destination Guide) to become "In the Process of ACS Verification" trauma center status for purposes of the Triage and Transport Rule.  Currently, there are no "In the Process" trauma centers in Indiana:

Trauma Center Name Location Adult Designation Pediatric Designation
Franciscan Health - Indianapolis Indianapolis III  

Please note: To be considered for "in the process of ACS verification", please submit your application to IDHS 30 days prior to the next Indiana State Trauma Care Committee (ISTCC) meeting.  Click here to see the dates of ISTCC meetings for 2021.

"In The Process"

The EMS Commission’s Triage and Transport Rule requires the most severely injured patients to be taken to a trauma center.  For the purposes of the rule, a trauma center is defined as a hospital that is verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), a hospital that is state designated as a trauma center – such as in Illinois who doesn’t use the ACS to verify trauma centers, or a hospital that is “in the process” of becoming a trauma center.  This last phrase was added to allow hospitals that want to become trauma centers the opportunity to receive the patients necessary to show a track record of excellent trauma care required for the ACS verification process.

The EMS Commission has posted the forms necessary to apply to become an “in the process” hospital.  By filling out these forms and submitting them to the EMS Commission, members of the Indiana State Trauma Care Committee will review these documents and make a recommendation to the State Health Commissioner who will make the final recommendation to the EMS Commission who will then respond to the applicant regarding their “in the process” designation.  Approval by the EMS Commission will define a hospital as a Trauma Center for purposes of the Triage and Transport Rule allowing any EMS Provider to take trauma patients to your facility.

The form can be found on their web site, located here.  The spreadsheets are located here.

Please mail complete packet to:

EMS Certifications
Indiana Department of Homeland Security
302 West Washington Street, Room W246
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Verified Trauma Centers

Indiana relies upon the American College of Surgeons — Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) to verify trauma centers.  Currently, there are 23 verified trauma centers in Indiana:

Trauma Center Name Location Adult Designation Pediatric Designation
Ascension St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital Anderson Level III  
Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Evansville Level II Level II
Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital Indianapolis Level I  
Community Hospital Anderson Anderson Level III  
Deaconess Hospital Evansville Level II  
Elkhart General Hospital Elkhart Level III  
Eskenazi Health Indianapolis Level I  
Franciscan Health-Crown Point Crown Point Level III  
Franciscan Health-Lafayette East Lafayette Level III  
Good Samaritan Hospital Vincennes Level III  
IU Health Arnett Hospital Lafayette Level III  
IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital Muncie Level III  
IU Health Bloomington Hospital Bloomington Level III  
IU Health Methodist Hospital Indianapolis Level I  
Lutheran Hospital of Indiana Fort Wayne Level II Level II
Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center Jasper Level III  
Memorial Hospital of South Bend South Bend Level II  
Parkview Regional Medical Center Fort Wayne Level II Level II
Reid Health Richmond Level III  
Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health Indianapolis   Level I
Terre Haute Regional Terre Haute Level III  
Union Hospital Terre Haute Level III  

Locations of ACS Verified and "In the Process of ACS Verified" Trauma Centers in Indiana

 

45-Minute Map

May 2020: Methodist Hospitals - Northlake Campus is no longer a verified level III trauma center.  Franciscan Health - Indianapolis is now a provisional level III trauma center.
 
June 2019: Elkhart General Hospital has been verified as a Level III trauma center.

May 2018: Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center has been verified as a Level III trauma center.

December 2017: Franciscan Health Crown Point has been verified as a Level III trauma center.

August 2017: Methodist Hospitals - Northlake Campus and Reid Health have been verified as a Level III trauma centers.  Terre Haute Regional has been verified as a Level II trauma center.

July 2017: Community Hospital Anderson has been verified as a Level III trauma center.

June 2017: Union Hospital Terre Haute has been verified as a Level III trauma center.

May 2017: IU Health Bloomington has been verified as a Level III trauma center.

September 2016: Good Samaritan Hospital has been verified as a Level III trauma center.

August 2016: Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper is now considered a trauma center for purposes of the triage and transport rule.  The 45-minute map below reflects this change.

April 2016: St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital has been verified as a Level III trauma center.

February 2016: Union Hospital Terre Haute is now considered a trauma center for purposes of the triage and transport rule. The 45-minute map below reflects this change.

December 2015: Franciscan Health-Crown Point, Reid Health and Terre Haute Regional are now considered trauma centers for purposes of the triage and transport rule.The 45-minute map has been updated. Data sources and algorithms used to create the map were updated in January, 2014. The new data should provide a more accurate measurement. However, the ISDH has not attempted to confirm the accuracy in the field. Maps developed prior to January, 2014 cannot be directly compared to the current map.

August 2014: Methodist Hospital - Northlake Campus is considered a trauma center for purposes of the triage and transport rule.

June 2014: Community Hospital of Anderson and Good Samaritan Hospital is considered a trauma center for the purposes of the triage and transport rule.

January 2014: St. Vincent Anderson Hospital and St. Elizabeth East Hospital are now considered a trauma center for purposes of the purposes of the triage and transport rule.

Public Health Preparedness Districts in Indiana

Rural Trauma Team Development Course Information

The Rural Trauma Team Development Course (RTTDC) emphasizes the important role of smaller, often rural, non-trauma hospitals in the overall state trauma system.  The RTTDC program covers key concepts in the triage of trauma patients, including the decision whether the hospital can meet the patient’s needs or needs to transfer the patient to a trauma center.  Understanding everyone’s role in a statewide trauma system is crucial in providing good care to trauma patients, especially in light of the fact that at least 60% of all trauma deaths occur in areas where only 25% of the population lives.

If your facility is interested in participating in the RTTDC program with a nearby trauma center, please contact the ISDH (Katie Hokanson at 317.234.2865 or khokanson@isdh.in.gov ) or your nearest trauma center:

Deaconess Hospital
Dara Dilger
Trauma Program Manager
dara.dilger@deaconess.com 
812-450-3044
 

Eskenazi Health
Sherri Marley
Trauma Program Manager
sherri.marley@eskenazihealth.edu
317-880-5031

IU Health – Methodist Hospital
Catana Philipps
Trauma Educator and Outreach Coordinator
cphilipps@iuhealth.org
317-962-3456

Lutheran Hospital
Andrew Stimpson
Injury Prevention Coordinator
Astimpson@lutheran-hosp.com
260-435-2629

Memorial Hospital South Bend
LeAnne Young
Trauma Program Manager
lsyoung@beaconhealthsystem.org
574-647-5335

Parkview Regional Medical Center
Lisa Hollister
Trauma Program Manager
Lisa.Hollister@parkview.com
260-266-1275

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville
Marie Stewart
Injury Prevention/Trauma/Outreach Coordinator - Trauma Services
marie.stewart@ascension.org
812-485-7836
 

Ascension St. Vincent Hospital 
Kristin Wagner or Colleen Groves
Trauma Injury Prevention, Education & Outreach Coordinators
indytrauma@ascension.org
317-338-3334

Terre Haute Regional Hospital
Frank Safrit
Director, Trauma Services
812-237-9991
Frank.Safrit@HCAHealthcare.com
 

 

 

Contact Information

Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention
indianatrauma@isdh.in.gov
 

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