Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-2530.3

Requirements for distribution of trauma patients.

A. The State Board of Health, giving consideration to the

recommendations of the Trauma and Emergency Response Advisory

Council created in Section 1-103a.1 of this title, shall promulgate

rules establishing minimum standards and objectives to implement the

development, regulation and improvement of trauma systems on a

statewide basis. Rules shall provide for the classification of

trauma and emergency care provided by all hospitals based on the

level of service provided and for triage, transport and transfer

guidelines. The Board shall consider guidelines developed by the

American College of Surgeons in promulgating rules under this

section.

B. The rules shall provide specific requirements for the

distribution of trauma patients, ensure that trauma care is fully

coordinated with all hospitals and emergency medical services in a

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 843

regional area, and reflect the geographic areas of the state,

considering time and distance.

C. The rules shall include:

1. Pre-hospital care management guidelines for triage and

transport of trauma patients;

2. Establishment of referral patterns of trauma patients and

geographic boundaries regarding trauma patients;

3. Requirements for licensed hospitals providing trauma and

emergency operative services to provide quality care to trauma

patients referred to these facilities;

4. Minimum requirements for resources and equipment needed by a

trauma and emergency operative services facility to treat trauma

patients;

5. Minimum standards for the availability and qualifications of

health care personnel, including physicians and surgeons, treating

trauma patients within a hospital;

6. Minimum requirements for data collection including, but not

limited to, trauma incidence reporting, system operation and patient

outcome, and continuous quality improvement activities;

7. Minimum requirements for periodic performance evaluation of

the system and its components through continuous quality improvement

activities;

8. Minimum requirements for reviews of trauma patient

transfers;

9. Requirements that hospitals with the capacity and capability

to provide care not refuse to accept the transfer of a trauma

patient from another facility solely because of the person's

inability to pay for services or because of the person's age, sex,

race, religion or national origin;

10. Requirements for transferring hospitals to enter into

reciprocal agreements with receiving hospitals that specify that the

transferring hospital will accept the return transfer of trauma

patients at such time as the hospital has the capability and

capacity to provide care; provided, however, such reciprocal

agreements shall not incorporate financial provisions for transfers;

and

11. Minimum requirements for data collection for responses to

time-sensitive medical conditions including but not limited to

stroke and ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). The responses

to stroke and STEMI incidents shall be subject to review by the

regional trauma advisory boards created pursuant to Section 1-2530.5

of this title.