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State Representative Steve Huffman
Huffman,
Grossman Discuss Legislation to Upgrade Statewide Trauma System
COLUMBUS—State Representatives Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) and
Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) discussed upcoming legislation they will
introduce to upgrade Ohio’s statewide trauma system through the
creation of the Ohio Trauma Board.
The two legislators held a press conference this morning at the
Statehouse to explain the importance, and the components, of the
legislation, which they plan to introduce today. They were joined by
Dr. Steve Steinberg, a trauma surgeon at The OSU Wexner Medical Center;
Philip H. Cass, of the Central Ohio Trauma System; and Rick Frank, of
the Ohio Hospital Association.
“This has been a collaborative process of many partners dealing with
trauma in Ohio. I am grateful to each individual and organization that
has helped create this important bill,” Grossman said. “Our goal is to
improve on trauma outcomes to make Ohio the very best in providing the
care needed in trauma situations.”
Trauma is the leading cause of death for Ohioans between the ages of 1
and 44, according to Dr. Steinberg. Since 2001, the state’s trauma
death rate has increased by 33 percent.
“I want to thank Representative Grossman for asking me to come aboard
for this historic legislation,” Huffman said. “Currently, our state is
47th in the country in health care and this legislation is helping to
move that bar forward for the citizens of Ohio in improving their
health outcomes and quality of life.”
One of the chief provisions of the bill is the creation of the Ohio
Trauma Board, which would consist of 19 members that will be appointed
by the Governor, Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. The
Board would be tasked with operating the state trauma registry, seeking
and distributing grants and developing a statewide system for improving
the quality of trauma care and rehabilitation.
The legislation also seeks to add new designation standards, such as
participation in statewide and regional injury prevention and quality
improvement activities and more timely data submissions to the registry.
Video of today’s press conference can be found here: http://www.ohiochannel.org/MediaLibrary/Media.aspx?fileId=146718
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