Provides for quality assurance for trauma and emergency care

BILL NUMBER:S5537A

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to ensuring ongoing quality assurance measures for emergency medical and trauma care and autopsy reports on deceased persons treated at trauma centers

Purpose

This bill will require agencies that conduct autopsies following traumatic death (medical examiners, coroners, etc) in New York State to share their findings with referring state-designated trauma centers in order to facilitate this quality improvement process.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends section 3066 of the public health law and incorporates quality control measures into the items that the NYS Department of Health shall review in conjunction with the State Emergency medical Services Council, State Emergency medical Advisory Committee and State Trauma Advisory Committee.

Section 2 of the bill amends section 4210 of the public health law and provides that a copy of all autopsy reports conducted at trauma centers following treatment for traumatic injuries shall be given to the trauma center for the purposes of patient quality improvement review and assessment.

Section 3 of the bill provides for the effective date.

Justification

Trauma centers were developed to assure that the highest level of care is available to the injured patient. Ongoing performance improvement and quality assurance is an important component of the care provided at these specialized centers. Agencies that verify and designate trauma centers in New York State (American College of Surgeons - Committee on Trauma, New York State Department of Health) require that trauma centers evaluate their outcomes on a regular basis and conduct full reviews of all trauma center deaths. When deaths do occur, autopsy findings can be critical to understanding the complete clinical picture.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.