From the CEO: This is Our Month
TETAF regularly recognizes the efforts of our trauma and stroke professionals, hospitals, nurses, and EMS professionals. This month, the nation will put them in the spotlight to raise awareness of their efforts and give them the recognition they deserve. We appreciate the many recognitions in May (see the articles below) however, we have firsthand knowledge about the care provided and appreciate the dedication of all involved, every single day.
The TETAF Advocacy team plans to use these recognitions to our advantage during May as we advocate for the needs in trauma, stroke, and emergency care, among other needs to be advocated. We are working with the 22 Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) to reach out to their legislators this month and have provided helpful resources for each RAC to use in their efforts.
Our team has a busy month of surveys, attending the Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) meetings, and the TETAF Board of Directors meeting. We hope to connect with those of you planning to attend the GETAC meetings this month.
We can never say it enough how much we appreciate all that each of you do to ensure Texas has a world class health care system. Thank you for your dedication!
Stay well,
Dinah
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REGISTER EARLY AND SAVE: TETAF Hospital Data Management Course (HDMC) - June 27-28 |
TETAF will offer its Hospital Data Management Course (HDMC) once again in a virtual format on June 27-28.
The TETAF Hospital Data Management Course (HDMC) is designed to improve the skill sets of the data entry specialist specific to data input, data abstraction and statistical reporting.
Learn more about the course and register by clicking the link below. Register early to save $50!
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YOU ARE INVITED: TETAF Hospitals Invited to Join the May Texas Perinatal Forum |
TETAF and Texas Perinatal Services appreciate everyone who attended the April Texas Perinatal Forum. We are continuing the leadership series in May 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, and Erin Moore, TETAF/Texas Perinatal Services communications director, will present on "Clarity in Communication," on May 19 at 10:00 a.m. Central. Jessica and Erin will share tips on concise and effective communication.
We hope our hospital partners can join us on May 19 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.
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TETAF Stroke Survey Process and Stroke Rule |
TETAF staff and surveyors are in the process of revising our stroke survey process to align with the new rule TAC 157.133. Revisions to the new the rule go into effect September 1, 2022 and will change the current Level III Stroke Support Hospital to the Level IV Acute Stroke Ready hospital.
TETAF will host a Zoom webinar for its stroke hospitals soon to review the upcoming changes and how your program may be affected.
In alignment with the rule revision, TETAF is enhancing its stroke survey service line based on the 2020 Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) approved Stroke Committee recommendations endorsing the utilization of the Brain Attack Coalition Guidelines. TETAF has a team of experienced stroke surveyors who provide survey verification services for 19 rural Texas hospitals that have sought out and worked to achieve the Level III designation as stroke centers. Stroke Level IIIs will be renamed Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals.
Although TETAF does not yet provide verification surveys for Comprehensive or Primary Stroke Hospitals, the new rule will increase stroke leveling to 4 levels and includes revisions affecting all levels of stroke care in Texas.
The rule revision will add a new stroke level of care and classifies the stroke designations as the following:
- Comprehensive (Level I)
- Advanced (Level II a new level of care in Texas)
- Primary (Level III)
- Acute Stroke Ready (formerly Stroke Support Facility Level III)
TETAF will provide verification surveys for hospitals seeking Acute Stroke Ready stroke designation. Although available for urban areas, TETAF ensures the verification and designation process is available for smaller, rural hospitals in Texas.
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TETAF Advocacy Team Presents on Perinatal Data Needs During Texas Hospital Association Meeting |
Members of the TETAF Advocacy Committee were invited to present on the need for a perinatal data collaborative during a joint meeting of the Texas Hospital Association (THA) Physician Executives and the THA Quality and Patient Safety Council. The meeting was held Friday, April 29 via Zoom.
TETAF president/CEO and lead advocate, Dinah Welsh; Regional Advisory Council (RAC)/Perinatal Care Regions (PCR) Alliance chair and TETAF board member, Dr. David Weisoly, and the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) executive director and a founding, long time TETAF board member (not currently serving), Eric Epley presented to the hospital leaders and council members. All three shared perspective on the need to verify maternal and neonatal levels of care have improved in Texas and thoughts on collecting quality data at a regional level that can be used by hospitals and the state.
The TETAF Advocacy team requested that the Senate Health and Human Services Committee review health data collection and 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.
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TETAF Board of Directors Will Meet Virtually on May 23 |
The TETAF Board of Directors will hold its next quarterly meeting on Monday, May 23 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom.
Future board meeting dates are August 16 at 5:00 p.m. and December 8 at 10:00 a.m. Meeting details will be provided in future newsletters.
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Texas Trauma and Acute Care News |
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May is National Trauma Awareness Month |
The month of May serves as a time to raise awareness about trauma injuries and prevention methods. This year's theme for National Trauma Awareness Month is "Safe Surroundings: Preventing Violence and Promoting Peace Community by Community." The American Trauma Society (ATS) and Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) chose to support violence prevention efforts selected four areas of focus for this year:
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Firearm Injury Prevention
- Mental Health Awareness
- Community Violence Intervention
Additionally, there will be four webinars during May. More information can be found on the STN website.
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National Trauma Survivors Day is May 18 |
The recognition of trauma survivors in May holds an important role in raising awareness about trauma injuries. May 18 is National Trauma Survivors Day.
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May is National Stroke Awareness Month |
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The theme for this year's EMS Week (May 15-21) is "Rising to the Challenge." Each day during the week will have a special focus, with Thursday, May 19 focusing on Stop the Bleed.
Additionally, nominations are now being accepted for the Texas EMS Awards. Nominations are accepted until September 16. For more information, visit the Texas EMS Awards webpage.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott Officially Declares May 19 as Stop the Bleed Day in Texas |
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared May 19 as Stop the Bleed Day in Texas. TETAF and the Stop the Bleed Texas Coalition worked together to seek the official proclamation.
In addition to May 19, the month of May is Stop the Bleed Month. Find resources and success stories to share this month on the Stop the Bleed Texas Coalition website and on the national Stop the Bleed website. The Stop the Bleed Texas Coalition website offers helpful social media examples along with tips for hosting Stop the Bleed training opportunities.
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Thank You to All Hospitals and Nurses! |
TETAF would like to thank all of our hospital partners and the nurses working in our hospitals for their remarkable dedication to providing quality health care to patients in Texas.
May 6-12 is National Nurses Week (May 6 is National Nurses Day) and May 8-14 is National Hospital Week.
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Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital Names Surgical Suites After Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox |
The second-floor surgical suites at Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital in Houston are now known as the Kenneth L. Mattox, MD Surgical Suite.
Dr. Mattox, a member of the TETAF Board of Directors, served as Ben Taub Hospital’s chief-of-staff and surgeon-in-chief for 31 years and retired in 2020.
TETAF would like to congratulate Dr. Mattox on this well-deserved honor. Read more about this recognition and Dr. Mattox's distinguished career here.
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Human Trafficking Seminar in Northeast Texas Will Provide Continuing Education |
The Northeast Texas Preparedness Coalition and the Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council will host "Stop Human Trafficking" on May 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Civic Center. TETAF will be the provider of continuing education for this seminar.
For more information, please view the following items:
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Registration Open for Texas Trauma Designation Education Course |
The Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum (TTCF) will offer its Texas Trauma Designation Education Course (TTDEC) virtually on May 10. TETAF's vice president of operations, Brenda Putz, BSN, RN, will present during this course.
The next TTCF general membership meeting will be on May 23 in Austin.
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Trauma and Acute Care News
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All month - Trauma Awareness Month, Stroke Awareness Month, Stop the Bleed Month
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