R426-9-100. Authority and Purpose for Specialty Care Systems Standards

  (1) This rule establishes requirements pursuant to statute for a statewide specialty care systems and related emergency medical systems including the following:

  (a) establishes and actively supervises a statewide trauma system;

  (b) establishes, by rule, trauma center designation requirements and model state guidelines for triage, treatment, transport, and transfer of trauma patients to the most appropriate health care facility; and

  (c) allows designation of trauma care facilities consistent with the trauma center designation requirements and verification process established by the Department and applicable statutes.

  (2) This rule provides standards for the categorization of all hospitals and the voluntary designation of trauma centers to assist physicians in selecting the most appropriate physician and facility based upon the nature of the patient's critical care problem and the capabilities of the facility.

  (3) It is intended that the categorization process be dynamic and updated periodically to reflect changes in national standards, medical facility capabilities, and treatment processes. Also, as suggested by the Utah Medical Association, the standards are in no way to be construed as mandating the transfer of any patient contrary to the wishes of his attending physician, rather the standards serve as an expression of the type of facilities and care available in the respective hospitals for the use of physicians requesting transfer of patients requiring skills and facilities not available in their own hospitals.