HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration recently announced $1.9 million in funding to support and strengthen state trauma systems through infrastructure development.
 
Nine states -- Alaska, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia – are newly funded and the remaining 41 states will receive continuation grants.  Each state’s award is approximately $40,000.
 
“The ability to respond quickly to care for victims of accidents or attacks protects and promotes the health and well-being of all Americans,” said Elizabeth M. Duke, HRSA administrator.  “These grants will help set standards for high-quality trauma care in communities across the country.”
 
The trauma funds support state-based efforts to ensure that key infrastructure elements are in place.  These include establishing a lead state trauma agency, having a state trauma system manager in place, forming statewide trauma system stakeholder groups, and creating or updating a statewide plan for the trauma system.
 
Under a new requirement, state trauma system managers must develop or maintain listings for all trauma centers and hospitals within the state.  Additionally, each state manager will work toward creating a computer list of essential email contacts to enhance state communications.
 
The grants are funded under the Trauma-Emergency Medical Services Systems Program, which is administered by HRSA and its Office of Special Programs.
 
A list of the nine new grant awards is attached. 
 

FY 2003 Trauma EMS Systems Program Grants
Organization	City	State	Amount
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services	Juneau	Alaska	$40,000
Commonwealth of Massachusetts	Boston	Mass.	$40,000
Michigan Dept. of Consumer and Industry Services	Lansing	Mich.	$40,000
Nebraska Department of Health	Lincoln	Neb.	$40,000
New Jersey Department of Health	Trenton	N.J.	$40,000
New Mexico Trauma Foundation Inc.	Santa Fe	N.M.	$40,000
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control	Columbia	S.C.	$40,000
Tennessee Department of Health	Nashville	Tenn.	$40,000
Virginia Department of Health	Lakeside	Va.	$40,000
TOTAL:			$360,000