Members of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review voiced no objection to new reporting requirements the Ohio Department of Health proposed for trauma centers across the state. They now are required to “confidentially report” to the State Health Director an evaluation of their preparedness to respond to disasters, mass casualties, and bioterrorism.
Trauma center reports must include, copies of any documents that provide for how they will manage patients that exceed their capacity. Use of the number of operating rooms would be the primary determinant of capacity to handle critically injured casualties.
ODH has indicated that these new rules were not driven by homeland security concerns. Rather, they were part of an attempt to better track patterns or spikes in infectious diseases. The rules were formulated based upon the enactment of legislation that updated public health laws.