MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Subcommittee on Trauma Care
Thursday, February 7, 2002
1:00 p.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was
held on Thursday, February 7, 2002, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
Senator Chris Harris, the acting chair, called the meeting to
order at 1:07 p.m. The following business was transacted:
Senator Harris announced that the subcommittee on Trauma Care
will follow the same rules adopted by the Senate Finance
Committee as a whole. The Chair briefly reviewed the Trauma
Care charge issued by Lt. Gov. Ratliff and Speaker Laney and
welcomed opening remarks from Senators Zaffirini and Lindsay.
It is the intent of the Chair to hold subcommittee hearings in
the Rio Grande Valley, Houston and the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Specific dates have yet to be determined.
The Chair called the following invited witnesses to provide oral
testimony:
Kathy Perkins, Bureau Chief, Texas Department of Health,
answered questions from the committee and gave a detailed
presentation on the Texas Trauma System.
Guy Clifton, MD, answered questions from the committee and
gave examples of current emergency room crises. Dr.
Clifton provided insight on the troubles hospitals face due
to capacity problems. Many patients do not receive the
care they need because emergency rooms and intensive care
units are full. He explained the "Golden Hour" and how
crucial it is for patients to be able to receive care
immediately no matter if they are in a rural or urban area.
Charlene Seale, registered nurse, Texas Panhandle Northwest
Texas Hospital, answered questions from the committee and
spoke at length on the importance of trauma care facilities
in rural areas.
Mike McKinney, answered questions from the committee.
Camille Miller, President/CEO, Texas Institute for Health
Policy Research, answered questions and provided the
committee with a handout entitled, Trauma Care in Texas:
Where Are We Now?
Jorie Klein, registered nurse, Parkland Health and Hospital
System, answered questions from the committee and gave an
overview on staffing problems that hospitals face. She
explained how patients are having to wait longer for health
care because there simply are not enough trained nurses on
staff. Also, hospitals are being forced to go on
diversions longer because of short staffing.
Donna George, representing Trauma Regional Advisory
Councils, gave an overview on the Texas Trauma System.
She illustrated that Texas is divided into 22 Trauma
Service Areas with a Regional Advisory Council to represent
each area.
Eric Eploy, executive director, GETAC Diversion Task Force,
answered questions from the committee and gave a briefing
on the Diversion Task Force. He explained the dangers of
EMS units being on diversion and what impact that has on
patient care.
Senator Lucio made a short statement on health care problems
faced in the Rio Grande area. Due to rising insurance premiums
many physicians in his area have been forced to abandon their
practices. He reiterated the importance of this interim
committee charge.
The Chair thanked all the invited witnesses for their time and
testimony.
There being no further business, at 3:32 p.m. Senator Harris
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Chris Harris, Chair
______________________
Amber Martin, Clerk