Minnesota Statewide Trauma System

For the critically injured, the time between the injury’s occurrence and getting emergency care is the most important predictor of survival. A trauma system betters the chance of survival regardless of nearness to an urban trauma center.

A trauma system is a predetermined, organized, multidisciplinary response to managing the care and treatment of severely injured people. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) oversees the statewide trauma system in Minnesota. The system addresses four primary components: trauma hospital designation criteria; trauma registry; EMS/pre-hospital triage and transport guidelines; and hospital-to-hospital transfer guidelines.

Minnesota’s trauma system specifies criteria for treating and transporting seriously injured people and a process by which hospitals can be designated as trauma hospitals. The goal of the statewide system is to have every Minnesota hospital become a trauma hospital.

State Trauma Advisory Council (STAC)

The State Trauma Advisory Council advises, consults with, and makes recommendations to the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) about the development, maintenance, and improvement of the statewide trauma system.

Regional Trauma Advisory Committees (RTAC)

Regional Trauma Advisory Committees advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the State Trauma Advisory Council for regional modifications to the statewide trauma system criteria that will improve patient care and accommodate specific regional needs.