March 2022
From the CEO: Focusing on a Strong Spring
Here we are entering the month when spring begins, and 2022 is proving to be a fast and busy year for TETAF and Texas Perinatal Services. The days are filled with surveys, meetings, conferences, planning, and more.

I am pleased we closed out the month of February strong and we are taking that momentum into the month ahead. Reflecting back to two years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic was changing our world and also how TETAF operated. Our team went into action rescheduling surveys and developing a robust COVID-19 Safety Plan. As I look at our full calendar of surveys scheduled this month, it is a good feeling knowing our survey team continues to conduct in-person surveys, which we believe ensures our hospital partners are providing optimal care to patients.

It is our hope that everyone can experience more of a "normal" of what life was like just over two years ago. We appreciate all you do to strengthen our health care systems.


Stay well,
Dinah
TETAF News
SAVE THE DATES: 2022 TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meetings
The remaining quarterly meetings of the TETAF Board of Directors have been scheduled for 2022 and the dates are as follows:

  • TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting, May 23, 2022, 5:00 p.m., TBD in Austin
  • TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting, August 16, 2022, 5:00 p.m., TBD in Austin
  • TETAF Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting, December 8, 2022, 10:00 a.m., TBD in San Antonio
  • TETAF General Assembly Meeting, December 8, 2022, 1:00 p.m., TBD in San Antonio

TETAF is planning for these meetings to be in-person and the specific locations will be announced soon. Visit the TETAF website for updates on upcoming board meetings.
TETAF Earns Approval as a Provider of Nursing Continuing Professional Development by the Louisiana State Nurses Association
TETAF has been approved for another three years as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Louisiana State Nurses Association.

TETAF would like to thank Rosie Bolenbacher, MSN, TCRN, RN for her hard work and diligence in ensuring TETAF can continue providing important and beneficial educational opportunities for our stakeholders.
Texas Trauma and Acute Care News
Darrell Pile, Former Member of the TETAF Board of Directors, Retires From the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC)
The Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC) has announced that its chief executive officer (CEO), Darrell Pile, has retired as its leader. Lori Upton will serve as interim CEO.

Pile spent decades serving Texans in trauma care and health care. He served as CEO of SETRAC for nearly 11 years and was a health care administrator prior to joining SETRAC. He also served as a member of the TETAF Board of Directors.

TETAF thanks Pile for his many years of service in trauma care and we wish him happiness in his retirement.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: GETAC Council Meets on March 11
The next quarterly meeting of the Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) has been moved to Friday, March 11 at 8:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in-person at the Robert Bernstein building at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Central Campus in Austin and it will be streamed via Microsoft Teams. TETAF will provide an update and participate in this meeting.

Click here to view the agenda and register to watch the meeting via Teams.

The third quarter meetings will be held May 24-26, 2022. For more information, please visit the GETAC webpage.
Rhonda Manor-Coombes presents during the TTCF meeting.
Rosie Bolenbacher (left) and Terri Rowden (right) worked together to provide CEU on behalf of TETAF during the TTCF meeting.
TETAF Provides Education and Q&A Opportunity During the Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum General Assembly Meeting
The Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum (TTCF) held its General Assembly meeting on February 8 in Austin. During the meeting, TETAF Board of Directors member, Rhonda Manor-Coombes, BSN, RN, TCRN, provided a presentation to members as the director-at-large for TTCF.

TETAF trauma surveyor, Terri Rowden, BSN, RN, TCRN, provided a CEU opportunity with the TETAF Trauma Nurse Documentation Webinar. Following the CEU opportunity, TETAF trauma surveyors hosted a Q&A opportunity for TTCF members.

The next TTCF General Assembly meeting will be on May 24 and the location will be announced soon. TTCF will celebrate its 30th anniversary during this meeting.
March is National Trauma Brain Injury Awareness Month
Approximately 3.6 million people in the United States suffer a traumatic brain injury every year. It is important to educate people about prevention and the seriousness of head injuries.

March is designated as Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month and the Brain Injury Association of America has helpful tools to use as you raise awareness. Click here to access these tools.
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