April 2022
From the CEO: The Difference in Two Years
Two years ago this month, TETAF faced a historical event, as we all did in health care, and for the first time in the history of the organization all surveys for that month were postponed while TETAF developed its COVID-19 Safety Plan. This was uncharted territory for TETAF and while it is a time we hope to never experience again, we are stronger for the lessons learned. We continue to be thankful for the progress made and how much has returned to a more normal routine.

That normal includes our survey services and survey consultation services that fill our calendar in April. Additionally, we are notifying those who expressed interest in serving on a TETAF committee of their committee assignments. Our team is also busy preparing for a very full month in May with more surveys and consultations, the TETAF Board of Directors quarterly meeting, the Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) meetings, the Texas Trauma Coordinators' Forum (TTCF) general meeting, an upcoming TETAF Hospital Data Management Course (HDMC) in June, and advocacy preparation and activity during the interim.

We are grateful for this active time and simultaneously we realize many of you continue to face the challenges stemming from the pandemic. We appreciate all you do to ensure quality health care for Texans.


Stay well,
Dinah
TETAF News
Texas Perinatal Services Invites TETAF Trauma and Stroke Hospital Partners to its April Texas Perinatal Forum
Everyone is invited to the April Texas Perinatal Forum (Yes, you read this correctly!) The Texas Perinatal Forum will provide a unique topic in April for all hospital partners of TETAF and Texas Perinatal Services. Jessica Phillips, MAS, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS, perinatal program director for Texas Perinatal Services, will present on "Maximizing Your Meeting," on April 27 at 10:00 a.m. Central.

Jessica will share tips on getting more out of meetings, ensuring they are productive, and becoming more comfortable leading a meeting. This presentation is for those who are new to leading meetings as well as seasoned pros. We encourage everyone to bring their most effective tactics ready to share during this engaging forum. 

We hope our hospital partners can join us on April 27 for our Texas Perinatal Forum and we look forward to having our trauma and stroke hospital partners join us. Please register to attend the forum by clicking the button below.
2022 TETAF Committees
TETAF committees will actively begin meeting soon as the chairs of each committee have been named and more than 60 stakeholder members are being notified of their appointments.

Each member of the TETAF Board of Directors serves on a committee and the committees are chaired by a board member. The chairs are as follows:

Advocacy - Wanda Helgesen

Education - Scott Christopher

Finance - Kathy Perkins

Governance - Dudley Wait

Survey Verification - Danny Little

TETAF appreciates the interest of so many stakeholders to serve on each of these committees.
SAVE THE DATE: TETAF Hospital Data Management Course (HDMC)
TETAF will offer its Hospital Data Management Course (HDMC) once again in a virtual format on June 27-28.

More details will be announced in the coming weeks on how to register.
Texas Trauma and Acute Care News
TETAF Advocacy Team Requests Health Data Review - Texas Senate Includes Interim Charge on Public Health Data
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has released the Senate Interim Charges. These charges require legislators to review current legislation and the committee tasked with the charge provides a report with recommendations that are considered during the upcoming legislative session.

The TETAF Advocacy team requested that the Senate Health and Human Services Committee review health data collection and TETAF is pleased to report it is included in the interim charges as follows:

Public Health Data: Review the processes for public health data collection and coordination by local and state entities as well as regional trauma centers. Identify any continuing barriers to the real-time dissemination of data concerning health care facility capacity—including data that can expedite timely care—and mortality rates, as well as other information that can assist in public policy decisions. 

TETAF will advocate to the legislature the need for timely, robust data that can lead to improved outcomes in trauma care, perinatal care, STEMI, stroke, and also disaster response.

Additionally, the TETAF Advocacy team will focus on other interim charges including:

Health Care Workforce: Study the impact of the global pandemic on the health care workforce in acute and long-term care. Identify health care staffing challenges and examine how staffing services and payment models changed the economics of the health care workforce. Identify and recommend ways to increase the health care workforce pipeline.

Pandemic Response: Examine the impact of state and federal pandemic policies—including agency guidance, licensing and regulatory actions, and health care industry policies—on patient care and treatment delivery. Examine how regulatory guidance impacts the patient-doctor relationship. Recommend any changes needed to ensure Texas can develop its own data- driven guidance during public health emergencies. 

TETAF will also monitor issues such as workforce education as it relates to teaching and health care workforce participation, transportation issues that could prevent and reduce traumatic injuries and fatalities, broadband and telecommunications as it could relate to telehealth, and any discussions regarding federal funds.

Read the complete list of Senate Interim Charges here.
Mission Zero Program to Receive $2 Million in Federal Funding
President Joe Biden recently signed the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill which includes $2 million for the Mission Zero program. This has been a high priority for the Trauma Center Association of America (TCAA) for several years. Among the legislators who advocated for the funding was Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX, 26th District, Denton County).

This program was established by the Military Injury Surgical Systems Integrated Operationally Nationwide to Achieve ZERO Preventable Deaths Act or “MISSION ZERO Act”, which was authorized by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019.

This funding will help to ensure trauma care readiness by providing federal grants that can be used to integrate military trauma care providers into civilian trauma centers. 
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Declares May as Stop the Bleed Month in Texas
Texas Governor Greg Abbott will once again declare May as Stop the Bleed Month in Texas. TETAF and the Stop the Bleed Texas Coalition worked together to seek the official proclamation.

May 19th is also Stop the Bleed Day in Texas. More information about these dates will be shared in the May TETAF newsletter.
TETAF Partners With Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum (TTCF) to Provide Upcoming Educational Opportunity
The Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum (TTCF) will offer its Texas Trauma Designation Education Course (TTDEC) virtually on May 12. TETAF's vice president of operations, Brenda Putz, BSN, RN, will present during this course.

For more information about TTDEC, visit the TTCF website.

The next TTCF general membership meeting will be on May 23 in Austin.
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Hiring Designation Coordinators
The EMS/Trauma Systems Section at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is hiring a trauma designation coordinator and a designation coordinator. Individuals hired for these positions will be actively involved in the designation survey process. The designation coordinator will work with all services lines (trauma, stroke, maternal, and neonatal).


In the News
TETAF Hospital Partner News: Christus St. Michael Hospital - Atlanta Designated as Support Stroke Facility
Congratulations to Christus St. Michael Hospital - Atlanta for its official designation as a Stroke Support Facility (Level III). The Atlanta, Texas hospital in Northeast Texas (Regional Advisory Council (RAC) F) was surveyed by TETAF in January.

Learn more about this designation in TXK Today.
Mark Your Calendar