Letter+To+Senator

November 1, 2011

The Honorable Rusty Crowe 301 6th Avenue North Suite 8 Legislative Plaza War Memorial Building Tennessee Senate Nashville, TN 37243

Dear Senator Crowe,

My name is Kaitlyn Luckey-Smith and I am writing to ask you to vote in favor of SB0522. I write in favor of SB0522, and hope that you will join, if you have not done so already, in supporting this bill. A trauma system is an organized system that provides a continuum of care for patients suffering from a traumatic injury. In addition to providing emergency stabilization, surgery and care, a trauma system provides for recovery and rehabilitation services. Furthermore, it forms a network and foundation for disaster and preparedness plans in the state. Trauma systems consist of trauma centers, designated centers which provide 24 hour specialized care focused on treating the myriad of etiologies associated with acute traumatic injuries. Currently, Tennessee is home to six Level I Centers, which provide the highest level of care, one Level II Center and three Level III centers. The state also houses several licensed IV providers, which do not qualify as trauma centers under current guidelines and therefore do not receive specially allocated funding. Unfortunately, the trauma system has fallen under great financial duress during these hard economic times. In 2005, Level I Trauma centers incurred an uncompensated cost of nearly 38 million dollars. Additionally, each Level I center allocates roughly 14 million a year in disaster planning and readiness. It is obvious that although your proximity to a trauma center can make the difference between life and death during a traumatic injury, they are one of the most scarce and underfunded services in Tennessee As a student nurse who has seen the ill effects of drastic reduction in monetary support and funding of our local trauma centers, I realize the importance of designating licensed IV centers as trauma referral centers, thereby allowing them to receive allocated funding. It is not only through experience in the field, but personal experience, that I ask you to support this bill. In the summer of 2010, a dear friend of mine was involved in a boating accident that left him battered and badly injured. Though his prognosis was dim, through the hard work of Paramedics on scene and staff in the Johnson City Medical Centers Trauma center (as well as ICU and OR staff), David made a recovery and was released from the rehabilitation center later in the year. Seeing firsthand the amazing work of a well-staffed, trained and stocked trauma center, I realize the monumental difference excellent funding can make. Although it took a hit to close to home to realize the importance of these centers, I now hope we can succeed in designating licensed level IV centers in the official guidelines of trauma centers, thereby providing them much needed funding.

In this time of poor economic funding, I believe it is important to open our eyes to the reality that only through proper funding can trauma centers provide optimal care. So again, I ask you to vote in favor of SB0522.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration

Sincerly

Kaitlyn Luckey-Smith ETSU College of Nursing Student