About Us

The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation was created by the combined efforts of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (formerly the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania) along with the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (formerly the Pennsylvania Nurses Association), the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania first recognized the Foundation in December 1984 when Act 209 was signed into law by Governor Thornburgh. Act 209 expired in June 1985. A comprehensive Emergency Medical Service Act (Act 45) was signed into law in July 1985, which again recognized the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation and established its mandate.

Purpose

The purpose of the Foundation is to develop a private voluntary trauma center accreditation program to:

develop standards for the operation of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, adopting at a minimum the current guidelines for trauma centers as defined by the American College of Surgeons,

evaluate any Pennsylvania hospital which makes application to the Foundation to determine if the applicant hospital meets the Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation,

conduct site survey visits by site survey teams composed of independent, qualified persons selected by the Foundation to determine if applicant hospitals meet the Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation,

issue certificates of accreditation to those hospitals which meet the Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation, and

establish an appeals mechanism to reconsider accreditation decisions. Other objectives of the Foundation are to:

conduct programs of education and research and

develop a statewide trauma registry - known as the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study (PTOS).

Structure

A 19-member board of directors governs the activities of the Foundation. This board is comprised of professionals with experience and expertise in the emergency health care industry. The Foundation strives to ensure equal geographic representation among the board members. Board membership includes:

five members representing statewide physician organizations,

five members representing statewide hospital organizations,

two members representing statewide nursing organizations,

two members representing statewide emergency services organizations,

the Chairman and Minority Chairman of both the Senate and House Health and Welfare Committees, or their committee member designees, and

the Secretary of the Department of Health or designee.

There are several standing committees within the organized structure of the Foundation. Membership is comprised of board members and trauma center personnel.

These committees, along with the corresponding ad hoc committees and task forces, serve a variety of functions ranging from revising and implementing the Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation and the accreditation process to researching and analyzing PTOS data.

Funding

The Foundation is a non-profit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. Primary funding is obtained through fees associated with the accreditation process.