August 2021
Surveys, Board Meeting, Education, and More
There is no summer slow down at TETAF. Our team has been busy preparing for great events ahead, while continuing to schedule upcoming surveys and consultations with our hospital partners.

As noted below, TETAF is offering a Trauma Activation Billing Course next week that will be presented by TETAF trauma surveyor, Jacky Betts, RN, BSN LP, TCRN. We have had a tremendous response with registration so far and look forward to offering this helpful educational opportunity.

At the Capitol, the special session will soon conclude and while a second special session has been anticipated in the fall for some time, it is anticipated that another session may be called in the coming days that may begin in August. The TETAF Advocacy team continues to follow all legislative activity for any trauma and emergency care, and perinatal care, discussions.

I appreciate the work each of you do and your dedication to ensuring a strong health care system in Texas.

Stay well,
Dinah
TETAF News
REGISTER: TETAF Trauma Activation Billing Course is AUGUST 9 and it is FREE
Trauma activation billing can be challenging to ensure that all critical care charges are captured appropriately. As a result, many trauma programs experience unnecessary losses in trauma response fees. 

The Texas EMS, Trauma and Acute Care Foundation (TETAF) will host a Trauma Activation Billing Webinar on August 9, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. CST. The one-hour webinar is free of charge.
Texas Trauma and Acute Care News
GETAC Meeting Update
During the recent Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) meeting in June, the council discussed rule revisions. The Trauma Service Area (TSA), stroke, and neonatal rule revisions are complete. The Regional Advisory Council (RAC) requirement and trauma rule revisions are in progress.

Additionally, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Office of EMS and Trauma Systems is working to streamline the process for the review of designation applications.

The complete GETAC meeting can be viewed on the GETAC webpage. GETAC committee dates are listed in the calendar below. The next GETAC meeting will be September 17, 2021.
Uncompensated Trauma Care Funding Application
The application to apply for Uncompensated Trauma Care funding is now available through DSHS. The deadline to submit the application is October 20, 2021. Learn more about the funding and apply via the DSHS website.

For questions, please email fundingapp@dshs.texas.gov.
Texas Hypertension Control Learning Collaborative
The Texas Hypertension Control Learning Collaborative (THCLC) is a partnership between DSHS and the American Heart Association. The THCLC is inviting primary care clinics in Texas to participate in this project that is focused on helping clinics improve hypertension control rates through the adoption and implementation of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring policies and protocols.

Applications to participate in the collaborative are due Thursday, August 5 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Learn more and apply on the THCLC webpage.
Hypertension Control Summit
The first session of the 2021 Texas Hypertension Control Summit virtual series begins on Tuesday, August 17 at 12:00 p.m. CST.

The summit is a presented by DSHS, the American Heart Association (AHA), and the American Medical Association (AMA).

Texas Wristband Project
As a result of Senate Bill (SB) 500 during the 86th Texas Legislative Session, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) allocates money to the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) for the Texas Wristband Project.

The goal of the project is to address the challenges of tracking patients due to a variety of electronic patient information systems and complexities that arise during large scale incidents.

Nearly all RACs have implemented the project. Learn more about the project in the Texas Wristband Project Summary.
Texas EMS Awards
The Texas EMS Conference is November 21-24, 2021 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin. During the conference, the Texas EMS Awards will be presented.

Award nominations must be submitted by September 17. View a list of categories and submit nominations on the Texas EMS Awards webpage.
Texas EMS Alliance Board Election
If you are a member of Texas EMS Alliance (TEMSA), online voting for the TEMSA Board of Directors voting ends today at 5:00 p.m. CST.

The new TEMSA Board of Directors will meet prior to EMS Evolution on Sunday, August 8.
Texas TQIP
The next quarterly meeting of the Texas Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) will be virtual on August 17 at 10:00 a.m. CST.

If you would like to attend the meeting, please email TexasTQIP@tetaf.org.
Mark Your Calendar