September 2021
A Familiar Fall Season
There is no doubt that we all hoped any resurgence of COVID-19 would not be as widespread as before. However, our hospital partners and Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) are once again working tirelessly with a significant spike in cases. What hospitals and the RACs experienced and learned last year helps them as they ensure optimal care for patients. Our thoughts are with all who are enduring the challenges of this most recent spike in cases.

TETAF and Texas Perinatal Services continue to work one-on-one with our hospital partners as surveys are scheduled to adapt to the unique circumstances for that hospital during this time.

We also find ourselves adjusting two in-person events to a virtual meeting format. The TETAF Board of Directors quarterly meeting on September 9 will be held via Zoom. It is our hope that we can meet in-person for our final quarterly meeting of the year in December. For the first time in TETAF history, we will conduct our trauma surveyor training virtually in September. Both of these events were scheduled to be held in Austin this month, however the health of everyone involved and consideration of health care needs being met in the various regions across the state is priority.

The second special legislative session continues and the TETAF Advocacy team continues to monitor legislation relating to trauma and emergency care, and perinatal care. Additionally, the team is working to find any opportunities for federal funding.

Our thoughts are with all of you who continue to face challenges with COVID-19. We are grateful for your dedication.

Stay well,
Dinah
TETAF News
TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting Will be Virtual
The next quarterly meeting of the TETAF Board of Directors will now be virtual via Zoom. The meeting will be Thursday, September 9 at 3:30 p.m.

Register below to attend the virtual meeting.
SAVE THE DATE: TETAF Hospital Data Management Course Will be Virtual in November
TETAF will offer its Hospital Data Management Course (HDMC) virtually on November 1-2, 2021. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

Anyone who may be interested in this course should be subscribed to our emails to receive complete course details.
TETAF Trauma Activation Billing Course
The TETAF Trauma Activation Billing Course offered last month was our most well-attended virtual course to date. Thank you to all who took the course and a special thank you to TETAF trauma surveyor, Jacky Betts, for taking the time to present and share your expertise.

The course can be viewed on the TETAF website by clicking below. CNE is only offered to those who participated during the complete live course offering on August 9.
Texas Trauma and Acute Care News
STRAC Executive Director and Former TETAF Board Member Testifies on COVID-19 Response
The Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on August 10 that was focused on understanding current trends in COVID-19 hospitalizations, staffing in Texas hospitals, and the need for medical equipment.

Among those who were invited to testify were Eric Epley, Executive Director of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) and former TETAF board member. Additionally, Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) joined Epley during the testimony. Epley testified that the curve in the COVID-19 pandemic is not slowing and shared examples of the urgent need for staffing. Epley added that the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) are helping with the balance of staffing.

Epley's complete testimony can be viewed on the TETAF Advocacy webpage under the Legislative Testimony Videos section.
Texas Health and Human Services to Collect COVID-19 Related Federal Fund Information from Hospitals
Texas Health and Human Services will begin collecting information on the total value and uses of COVID-19 related federal funds. This is in compliance with Senate Bill (SB) 809 and Rider 143.
GETAC Meetings
The Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) will hold its third quarter council meeting and its committee meetings virtually via Microsoft Teams in September, with the exception of the Cardiac Care committee meeting on Zoom.

GETAC meetings in September are as follows:

September 2 at 2:30 p.m. - Trauma Systems committee

September 2 at 4:30 p.m. - Cardiac Care committee

September 3 at 3:30 p.m. - Stroke committee

September 8 at 10:00 a.m. - Air Medical and Speciality Care committee

September 8 at 3:00 p.m. - Trauma Systems committee

September 9 at 9:00 a.m. - Pediatric committee

September 17 at 10:00 a.m. - GETAC quarterly meeting
Texas TQIP
The August 17 meeting of the Texas Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) was cancelled and the next meeting is scheduled for November 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Central.

If you would like to attend the meeting, please email TexasTQIP@tetaf.org.
Texas EMS Award Nomination Deadline Approaching
The award nomination deadline for the Texas EMS Awards is September 17. View a list of categories and submit nominations on the Texas EMS Awards webpage.

The Texas EMS Conference is November 21-24, 2021 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin.
Recognition of the 18-month Anniversary of the First COVID-19 Case in Texas
TETAF joins our hospital partners and other health care organizations across Texas in 5 minutes of silence this Friday at 12:00 p.m.

Together, we will honor the growing number of Texans who have lost their lives to the virus and express gratitude for health care workers and our Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) working tirelessly to serve those in need.
In the News
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