June 1971	Pennsylvania Medical Society (PMS) report, Emergency Medical and Health Services in Pennsylvania, calls for PMS, the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) to take the lead in improving emergency medical services in Pennsylvania.
July 1976	HAP, PMS, and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) establish the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC). Governor Shapp signs the Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Systems Act into law.
August 1980	DOH establishes a process and timetable to designate trauma centers.
January 1981	Three separate legal suits are filed by hospitals challenging the authority of the DOH to designate trauma centers.
February 1982	HAP Board of Trustees approves policy to support voluntary trauma center accreditation program and to oppose designation by DOH.
April 1982	DOH attempts to develop regulations to designate trauma centers.
June 1983	American College of Surgeons (ACS) approves trauma center guidelines.
October 1983	(Governor) Thornburgh Administration and DOH develop proposed legislation to designate trauma centers and license ambulances.
December 1983	Senator Roy Wilt introduces SB 1177, the first attempt at an omnibus EMS bill.
January 1984	Legislative Budget and Finance Committee issues report on emergency medical services in Pennsylvania and recommends the enactment of a new comprehensive emergency medical services law to the General Assembly.
February 1984	HAP and PMS testify against DOH trauma center designation and indicate support for accreditation.
April 1984	Philadelphia Inquirer articles and Pittsburgh article series on emergency medical services and trauma care in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas are published.
May 1984	HAP and PMS form Trauma Task Force to develop voluntary accreditation program.
June 1984	Representatives Joseph M. Gladeck, Jr., and James Greenwood introduce HB 1627 which would establish a voluntary accreditation program.
July 1984	HAP Board of Trustees approves establishment of Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF).
September 1984	PMS Board of Trustees approves establishment of PTSF.
October 1984	PTSF Board of Directors (Board) holds its first meeting.
November 1984	Pennsylvania General Assembly votes unanimously to approve HB 1627.
December 1984	Governor Thornburgh signs HB 1627 into law.
January 1985	PTSF approves Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation.
April 1985	Draft Trauma Center Accreditation Standards are circulated. Hearings are held in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. Approximately 27 people testify in each area. Portions of these testimonies are then incorporated into the Standards or as Interpretations to the Standards.
June-July 1985	Standards for Adult Regional Resource (Level I) and Regional (Level II) Trauma Center are adopted by the Board. Board charges the Standards Committee with development of Level III type Standards. General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacts the Emergency Medical Services Act (Act 1985-45) and it is signed by Governor Thornburgh. Act 1985-45 is an omnibus EMS bill that defines the authority and responsibility of the DOH and PTSF.
September - October 1985	Standards for Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers are adopted by the Board of Directors. Applications for Survey are circulated.
December 1985	Fifty-three (53) Applications for Survey are received.
January 1986	Applications for Survey are reviewed for completeness, and follow-up correspondence is directed to hospitals with incomplete applications.
February 1986	The Board of Directors approves: Appeals Process and Procedure Conflict of Interest Policy Dr. Muller, Secretary of Health, meets with PTSF and concurs with the idea of developing Level III type Standards and the subsequent involvement of the DOH.
March 1986	Site survey visits are scheduled for 36 hospitals.
April - June 1986	Thirty-six (36) hospitals are site surveyed by ten survey teams of experts from outside Pennsylvania.
July 1986	Board approves accredited trauma centers.
October 1986	Board announces accredited trauma centers: Five (5) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Three (3) Regional Trauma Centers One (1) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Center First time accreditation is a one year provisional accreditation. PTSF statewide Trauma Registry begins with the accredited trauma centers.
November 1986	First step of Appeals Hearings - Pre-Informational Hearings are held for 26 hospitals.
December 1986	Board announces additional accredited trauma centers: One (1) Regional Resource Trauma Center One (1) Regional Trauma Center One (1) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Center Second accreditation cycle begins. Applications for Survey and Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation available.
January - April 1987	Board announces additional accredited trauma centers from the first cycle process as a result of focused site survey reviews: Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Trauma Centers
April - July 1987	Thirty-one (31) hospitals site surveyed by survey teams of experts from outside Pennsylvania.
October 1987	Board announces accredited trauma centers: Ten (10) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Ten (10) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
November 1987	First step of Appeals Hearings: Pre-Informational Hearings are held for nine (9) hospitals.
January - February 1988	Focused site survey reviews completed on several hospitals from the 1987 cycle.
February 1988	Third accreditation cycle begins: Applications for Survey and Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation available.
April 1988	Board announces three (3) additional accredited trauma centers from the 1987 cycle: One (1) Regional Resource Trauma Center Two (2) Regional Trauma Centers
May - July 1988	Twenty-one (21) hospitals are surveyed by survey teams of experts from outside Pennsylvania.
July 1988	Trauma Directors Conference - The first statewide physician peer review of trauma cases is held.
September - October 1988	Quality Assurance consultations are provided for seven (7) two-year accredited trauma centers.
October 1988	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 1988 through September 30, 1989: Eleven (11) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Fifteen (15) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
January 1989	Fourth accreditation cycle begins: 1989-90 Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation, including standards for combined trauma centers, and Applications for Survey available. Combined trauma centers are those institutions that actively maintain resources meeting both the adult and pediatric standards simultaneously. There are specific areas which may be shared as stipulated in the Standards. These combined standards are over and above the minimum pediatric standards which are mandated for all accredited trauma centers.
March 1989	Trauma Program Coordinators Conference - The first statewide nursing peer review of trauma cases is held.
May - July 1989	Fourteen (14) hospitals are surveyed by survey teams of experts from outside of Pennsylvania.
August - October 1989	Quality Assurance consultations are provided for 14 two-year accredited trauma centers.
October 1989	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 1989 through September 30, 1990: Eleven (11) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Twelve (12) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
December 1989	One hospital voluntarily withdraws as an accredited Regional Trauma Center.
January 1990	Fifth accreditation cycle begins: Applications for Survey available.
March 1990	Quality Assurance consultations are provided for three (3) two-year accredited trauma centers.
May - July 1990	Seventeen (17) hospitals are surveyed by survey teams of experts from outside of Pennsylvania.
July 1990	1991-95 Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation are available and are circulated to the current accredited trauma centers.
October 1990	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 1990 through September 30, 1991: Twelve (12) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Ten (10) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
January 1991	1991-95 Pediatric Standards for Trauma Center Accreditation and Standards for Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma are available and are circulated to all current accredited trauma centers. The Standards for Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma are for Regional Resource and Regional Trauma Centers which have full commitment to pediatric trauma -- beyond the minimum pediatric specific standards required for all Regional Resource and Regional Trauma Centers. Sixth accreditation cycle begins: Applications for Survey available.
April 1991	Automobile Insurance Reform Act includes payment for accredited trauma centers at the usual and customary rate for trauma patients who are triaged using the pre-hospital triage criteria.
May - July 1991	Sixteen hospitals are surveyed by survey teams of experts from outside of Pennsylvania.
October 1991	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 1991 through September 30, 1992: Eleven (11) Regional Resource Trauma Centers One (1) Regional Resource Trauma Center with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Ten (10) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
October 1992	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 1992 through September 30, 1993: Nine (9) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Three (3) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Eleven (11) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
December 1992	Governor Robert P. Casey signs a bill into law that extends the maximum accreditation period for certificates granted to trauma centers from two to three years.
June 1993	Workers' Compensation Reform bill provides an exemption for accredited trauma centers (the same as the Automobile Insurance Reform bill).
January 1994 - August 1997	Accreditation site survey process undergoes refinements including computerization of site survey process. Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study database used for: Research efforts Public policy information including bicycle helmet legislation Public education including violence and gun management As of August 1997, there are 26 hospitals accredited as trauma centers in Pennsylvania.
October 1998	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999: Eight (8) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Thirteen (13) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
October 1999	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000: Eight (8) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Thirteen (13) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
October 2000	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 2000 through September 30, 2001: Eight (8) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Five (5) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Thirteen (13) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
October 2001	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002: Eight (8) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Thirteen (13) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
October 2002	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003: Ten (10) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Ten (10) Regional Trauma Centers Two (2) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
March 2003	Board announces accreditation status has been granted to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Center, for the period from March 17, 2003 through September 30, 2004.
October 2003	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004: Ten (10) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Ten (10) Regional Trauma Centers Three (3) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
November 2003	Tenet Health System suspends trauma services at Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital due to nursing strike. Tenet Health System temporarily suspends trauma services at Hahnemann University Hospital due to lack of trauma physician coverage.
December 2003	Tenet Health System announces closure of Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital effective March 31, 2004.
January 2004	Hahnemann University Hospital resumes trauma services.
March 2004	Governor Rendell signs HB 100 into law providing funding for trauma centers and mandating that PTSF develop standards for trauma center accreditation for Level III trauma centers.
October 2004	Board announces accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005: Nine (9) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Ten (10) Regional Trauma Centers Three (3) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
January 2005	Level III Standards for trauma center accreditation finalized.
October 2005	Board announces 26 accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006: Nine (9) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Ten (10) Regional Trauma Centers Three (3) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
October 2006	Board announces 26 accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007: Nine (9) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Ten (10) Regional Trauma Centers Three (3) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
October 2007	Board announces 27 accredited trauma centers for the period October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008: Nine (9) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Four (4) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Eleven (11) Regional Trauma Centers Three (3) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers
October 2007	Board announces accreditation of one Level III trauma center for the period November 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. This is the first accredited Level III trauma center in Pennsylvania
November 2007	Board announces 28 accredited trauma centers for the period November 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008: Ten (10) Regional Resource Trauma Centers Three (3) Regional Resource Trauma Centers with Additional Qualifications in Pediatric Trauma Eleven (11) Regional Trauma Centers Three (3) Pediatric Regional Resource Trauma Centers One (1) Level III Trauma Center