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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements and protocols for the use of nighttime |
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triage equipment by emergency medical services personnel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivision (18-a) to read as follows: |
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(18-a) "Nighttime triage equipment" means a |
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multicolored illuminated tag with blue, green, red, and yellow |
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lights that is reusable, water resistant to 30 feet, and able to |
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provide a flashing and a solid light. |
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SECTION 2. Section 773.112(c), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The rules must include: |
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(1) prehospital care management guidelines for triage |
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and transportation of trauma patients; |
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(2) flow patterns of trauma patients and geographic |
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boundaries regarding trauma patients; |
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(3) assurances that trauma facilities will provide |
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quality care to trauma patients referred to the facilities; |
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(4) minimum requirements for resources and equipment |
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needed by a trauma facility to treat trauma patients; |
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(5) standards for the availability and qualifications |
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of the health care personnel, including physicians and surgeons, |
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treating trauma patients within a facility; |
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(6) requirements for data collection, including |
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trauma incidence reporting, system operation, and patient outcome; |
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(7) requirements for periodic performance evaluation |
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of the system and its components; [and] |
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(8) assurances that designated trauma facilities will |
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not refuse to accept the transfer of a trauma patient from another |
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facility solely because of the person's inability to pay for |
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services or because of the person's age, sex, race, religion, or |
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national origin; and |
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(9) minimum requirements for resources and equipment |
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used by emergency medical services personnel to treat patients at |
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night and during adverse conditions using nighttime triage |
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equipment. |
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SECTION 3. Section 773.114(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Each emergency medical services and trauma care system |
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must have: |
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(1) local or regional medical control for all field |
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care and transportation, consistent with geographic and current |
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communications capability; |
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(2) triage, transport, and transfer protocols, |
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including protocols for the use of nighttime triage equipment at |
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night and during adverse conditions; and |
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(3) one or more hospitals categorized according to |
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trauma care capabilities using standards adopted by board rule. |
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SECTION 4. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health |
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and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement Section 773.112(c), Health and Safety Code, as amended by |
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this Act, not later than December 1, 2013. |
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(b) An emergency medical services and trauma care system is |
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not required to have the nighttime triage equipment protocols |
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required under Section 773.114(a)(2), Health and Safety Code, as |
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amended by this Act, until January 1, 2014. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |