Trauma service areas; number and location of trauma centers.

(1) The Legislature recognizes the need for a statewide, cohesive, uniform, and integrated trauma system, as well as the need to ensure the viability of existing trauma centers when designating new trauma centers. Consistent with national standards, future trauma center designations must be based on need as a factor of demand and capacity.

(a) The following trauma service areas are established:

1. Trauma service area 1 shall consist of Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties.

2. Trauma service area 2 shall consist of Bay, Gulf, Holmes, and Washington Counties.

3. Trauma service area 3 shall consist of Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla Counties.

4. Trauma service area 4 shall consist of Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union Counties.

5. Trauma service area 5 shall consist of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns Counties.

6. Trauma service area 6 shall consist of Citrus, Hernando, and Marion Counties.

7. Trauma service area 7 shall consist of Flagler and Volusia Counties.

8. Trauma service area 8 shall consist of Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Sumter Counties.

9. Trauma service area 9 shall consist of Pasco and Pinellas Counties.

10. Trauma service area 10 shall consist of Hillsborough County.

11. Trauma service area 11 shall consist of Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties.

12. Trauma service area 12 shall consist of Brevard and Indian River Counties.

13. Trauma service area 13 shall consist of DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties.

14. Trauma service area 14 shall consist of Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie Counties.

15. Trauma service area 15 shall consist of Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties.

16. Trauma service area 16 shall consist of Palm Beach County.

17. Trauma service area 17 shall consist of Broward County.

18. Trauma service area 18 shall consist of Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

(b) Each trauma service area must have at least one Level I or Level II trauma center. Except as otherwise provided in s. 395.4025(16), the department may not designate an existing Level II trauma center as a new pediatric trauma center or designate an existing Level II trauma center as a Level I trauma center in a trauma service area that already has an existing Level I or pediatric trauma center.

(c) Trauma centers, including Level I trauma centers, Level II trauma centers, Level II trauma centers with a pediatric trauma center, jointly certified pediatric trauma centers, and stand-alone pediatric trauma centers, shall be apportioned as follows:

1. Trauma service area 1 shall have three trauma centers.

2. Trauma service area 2 shall have one trauma center.

3. Trauma service area 3 shall have one trauma center.

4. Trauma service area 4 shall have one trauma center.

5. Trauma service area 5 shall have three trauma centers.

6. Trauma service area 6 shall have one trauma center.

7. Trauma service area 7 shall have one trauma center.

8. Trauma service area 8 shall have three trauma centers.

9. Trauma service area 9 shall have three trauma centers.

10. Trauma service area 10 shall have two trauma centers.

11. Trauma service area 11 shall have one trauma center.

12. Trauma service area 12 shall have one trauma center.

13. Trauma service area 13 shall have two trauma centers.

14. Trauma service area 14 shall have one trauma center.

15. Trauma service area 15 shall have one trauma center.

16. Trauma service area 16 shall have two trauma centers.

17. Trauma service area 17 shall have three trauma centers.

18. Trauma service area 18 shall have five trauma centers.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, a trauma service area may not have more than a total of five Level I trauma centers, Level II trauma centers, Level II trauma centers with a pediatric trauma center, jointly certified pediatric trauma centers, and stand-alone pediatric trauma centers. A trauma service area may not have more than one stand-alone pediatric trauma center.

(2)(a) By May 1, 2018, the department shall establish the Florida Trauma System Advisory Council to promote an inclusive trauma system and enhance cooperation among trauma system stakeholders. The advisory council may submit recommendations to the department on how to maximize existing trauma center, emergency department, and emergency medical services infrastructure and personnel to achieve the statutory goal of developing an inclusive trauma system.

(b)1. The advisory council shall consist of 12 members appointed by the Governor, including:

a. The State Trauma Medical Director.

b. A standing member of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.

c. A representative of a local or regional trauma agency.

d. A trauma program manager or trauma medical director who is actively working in a trauma center and who represents an investor-owned hospital with a trauma center.

e. A trauma program manager or trauma medical director who is actively working in a trauma center and who represents a nonprofit or public hospital with a trauma center.

f. A trauma surgeon who is board-certified in an appropriate trauma or critical care specialty and who is actively practicing medicine in a Level II trauma center who represents an investor-owned hospital with a trauma center.

g. A trauma surgeon who is board-certified in an appropriate trauma or critical care specialty and actively practicing medicine who represents a nonprofit or public hospital with a trauma center.

h. A representative of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma who has pediatric trauma care expertise.

i. A representative of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida.

j. A representative of the Florida Hospital Association.

k. A physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 who is a board-certified emergency medicine physician who is not affiliated with a trauma center.

l. A trauma surgeon who is board-certified in an appropriate trauma or critical care specialty and actively practicing medicine in a Level I trauma center.

2. No two members may be employed by the same health care facility.

3. Each council member shall be appointed to a 3-year term; however, for the purpose of providing staggered terms, of the initial appointments, four members shall be appointed to 1-year terms, four members shall be appointed to 2-year terms, and four members shall be appointed to 3-year terms.

(c) The department shall use existing and available resources to administer and support the activities of the advisory council. Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement for per diem or travel expenses.

(d) The advisory council shall convene no later than June 1, 2018, and shall meet at least quarterly.