The Iowa Department of Public Health says a statewide trauma system is nearly complete. Department Emergency Medical Chief Gary Ireland says the system was mandated by the state legislature in 1995.They’ve been working to put the system together and it’ll be up and running by January 1st 2001. Ireland says the preparation has included a visit to all the hospitals in the state. Each has been given a trauma designation — with level one the highest and four the lowest.The ratings are based on the resources available at each facility. He says the trauma system lets paramedics know which hospital is the best for each patient.Ireland says the trauma system also requires the hospitals to report all injury-related information to the Department of Public Health.
