Programs and Activities / Funding
Programs and Activities
Funding
Programs & Activities
EMS System Development
The EMS and Trauma Systems Section is statutorily responsible
for development and management of the EMS, injury prevention
and trauma system needs of the state. Recently, the
Section formed an EMS System Task Force of individuals
across the state representing many different disciplines.
The task force is currently developing an EMS Plan
which identifies the most significant problems, goals
and activities related to improving Montana's EMS system.
Trauma System Development
This program is responsible for the planning and oversight
of the Montana Trauma Care System including: facility,
regional, and statewide system development; statewide
trauma registry development and data analysis; regional
and statewide system evaluation and quality improvement;
trauma center consultation and designation; trauma
education and technical assistance medical personnel
and facilities; public information and injury prevention.
A revised trauma plan and trauma rules are being developed.
Quarterly meetings of a state Trauma Care Committee
and three regional trauma committees facilitate ongoing
planning and quality improvement for the trauma system.
Prevention Program
The goal of this program is to reduce Montana’s
very high injury and death rates. The Injury Prevention
and Control Coordinator gathers and analyzes information
from multiple data sources to identify where and how
the injuries are occurring; to design injury prevention
and control strategies; and to evaluate and improve both
the programmatic and cost effectiveness of the prevention
strategies. The Coordinator works cooperatively with
and leads organizations, agencies, health care institutions,
health care providers and others to implement and to
evaluate injury prevention and control programs consistent
with data-driven, injury prevention and control plan.
Emergency Medical Services for
Children
This is a grant funded program which focuses on improving
pediatric emergency care, especially for special populations
of children. As this program emphasizes pediatric injury
prevention, many of the efforts are focused on family
centered care and family advocacy, inclusion of pediatric
care components in plan documents, and improving care
for special needs children. There is also a significant
emphasis on training of medical professionals, coalition
building, data collection, and comprehensive planning.
EMS Service Licensing &
Complaint Investigation
The Section manages the EMS service inspection
and licensing program (non-transporting units, air and
ground ambulance services), coordinates the statewide
EMS transportation system, and coordinates enforcement
activities. Activities include approval of license applications,
inspections, and technical support to services for a
broad range of EMS and transportation issues. Additionally,
complaints about EMS services are investigated and enforced
as needed.
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
Education
Co-sponsored by the Section, the Montana Committee on
Trauma and several hospitals, this course for physicians
and physician extenders is the standard for teaching
initial care and stabilization of trauma victims. Becoming
ever more popular, 4-5 courses a year are coordinated.
Prehospital Data Project
This project, to be phased in over several years, will
facilitate collection of prehospital care data, a critical
need for our EMS system. This project includes development
of web-based data collection software for local services
and the state, followed by comprehensive education on
how to use that data for management and quality improvement
activities. Eventually, this will support a ‘services
of excellence’ program to support and move EMS
services to a more comprehensive public health approach
to delivering services.
Public Information and Education
The EMS & TS Section provides technical assistance
to local emergency medical services providers. This includes
individual community assistance, the conduct of various
education programs and the preparation of manuals and
handbooks for local personnel.
Comfort One
The Section (through an MOU with the Montana Hospital
Association) administers the COMFORT ONE, prehospital
Do-Not Resuscitate Program for terminally ill and seriously
ill patients. Administrative rules and procedures are
in place and COMFORT ONE documents and materials are
made available to physicians to issue to their patients.
Unprotected Exposure
Rules are administered which allow physicians to report
information about certain diseases to prehospital providers
who may have had contact with and who have sustained
an unprotected exposure to the blood or body fluids
of a patient. The Section makes report forms available
to facilities and services and acts as a coordination
point for dissemination of that program.
Montana Poison Control System
The Montana Poison Control system provides assistance
to over 11,000 callers per year. Montana contracts
with the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center (RMPDC)
in Denver to provide expert poison information and
management services to Montana citizens and visitors
and to provide clinical toxicological services to Montana's
health care professionals. DPHHS provides a toll-free
telephone line for citizen access, widely advertises
the number and provides poison information and prevention
materials to Montana citizens.
Medical Response to Disaster
Planning
Current funding sources are being utilized to assist
with planning, education and supplies to enable EMS
and trauma services to be better prepared for bioterrorism
and disasters. Current projects include providing disaster
equipment and supplies to EMS services; development
of a response system for mass casualty incidents; development
of a statewide communications plan; and development
of statewide mutual aid agreements.
Funding
General Fund – $330,200.00 (annually for 2011-12 biennium)
Funds 4 FTE staff positions and supports general Section
activities, travel, training programs for local and
regional activities.
Trauma General Fund – $157,249.00 (annually for 2011-2012 biennium)
Funds 1 FTE staff position and supports trauma system
development activities including support for the State
Trauma Care Committee and local/regional planning and
training activities.
Injury Prevention Program - $122,000 (annually for 2011-2012 biennium)
Funds 1 FTE staff position and.25 FTE epidemiologist. Supports injury prevention activities related to auto crashes, falls, poisoning and other causes of mortality and morbidity in Montana.
Public Health Block Grant - EMS - $101,000
Funds 1 FTE staff position and a broad spectrum of local,
regional and state travel and training activities.
PHB Block Grant - Poison Control- $65,000
Partially funds Montana Poison Control program
HRSA EMS for Children Partnership Grant –
Continuing grant - $130,000
Funds 1 FTE staff position and supports injury prevention,
planning and training activities focused on
the needs of children
Highway Traffic Safety / DOT - $63,000 (2011)
Funds two years licensing, traning and technical assistance for Pentaho reporting and data linking software
Highway Traffic Safety / DOT - $59,500 (2011)
Funds one-time costs to implement a web-based version of the Montana Trauma Registry
Highway Traffic Safety / DOT - $80,500 (2011)
Funds development and implemenation of Foresight tablet software which will integrate with the state OPHI-PCR software.
MT Disaster & Emergency Services / Homeland Security - $75,000 (2011-2012)
Funds contracted services and travel to develop a Montana Medical Response to Disaster Plan and accompaning Strategic Plan
