Gov. Blagojevich announces $4.9 million for Illinois trauma centers

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that by the end of this month, Illinois trauma centers will receive almost $5 million in new funding to help care for the critically injured.  The money from the Illinois Department of Public Health's (IDPH) share of the Trauma Center Fund builds on funding trauma centers already received from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).  In Fiscal Year 2005, HFS distributed a total of $9.1 million to trauma centers. The funds for the trauma centers are generated by an additional $5 fee that is imposed on traffic fines of $55 or higher and a $100 surcharge that is imposed on convictions or orders of supervision for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 

"Trauma centers across this state are on the frontlines of emergency care.  The $14 million collected from traffic fines and drunk driving convictions will help ensure trauma centers are well-prepared to meet the needs of the victims of car accidents and other traumatic incidents," said Gov. Blagojevich.   

 

IDPH and HFS distributed $14 million in total to more than one hundred trauma centers around the state.  The money generated by traffic fines, convictions and orders is deposited into the Trauma Center Fund and each Department awards the trauma centers in different ways.  DPH awards about half of the receipts to hospital trauma centers in the geographic region where the traffic violation occurred.  The amount each hospital receives from the regional share is based on the total number of trauma patients for whom the hospital provides care.  HFS, however, distributes the funding to trauma centers based on the number of trauma patients cared for by the hospital who are covered by Medicaid.  HFS also receives federal Medicaid matching funds.

 

"In times of critical need, Illinoisans rely on trauma centers and their expert staff and medical teams that can provide assistance under very difficult situations," said Barry Maram, Director of HFS.  "With federal matching funds we are able to almost double the amount of funding to hospitals and medical centers who care for Medicaid patients."

 

"The state's trauma centers provide the most critical care for patients in often life or death situations and can be costly to maintain the level of care needed to tend to seriously injured citizens.  It is our hope that these funds can give the facility a financial boost that can make a difference," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director. 

 

To be eligible for the funds, a hospital must be designated a Level I or Level II trauma center by the Department of Public Health.  A Level I trauma center has trauma surgeons in-house 24 hours a day and offers other surgical specialties.  A Level II trauma center has trauma surgeons available to respond to the hospital within 30 minutes and other surgical specialties are made available or by transfer agreements with other facilities.

 

Blessing Hospital in Quincy has been a Level II trauma center since 1998 and received nearly $62,000 from the trauma center fund payout this fiscal year.  

"The revenue we receive from the trauma fund has been beneficial in several areas.  We use these monies for meeting requirements such as a designated Medical Director for Trauma and a Trauma Coordinator.   It also provides education and transportation funding to assist the Medical Director and Trauma Coordinator, as well as other trauma related personnel and physicians, to remain updated on current practice and rules," said Kathy Muder, director of EMS, Blessing Hospital. 

 

The following are the hospitals and the amount of funding each received from DPH and HFS in FY05: