Enhancing the Treatment and Prevention of Trauma in Southwest Wisconsin

About Us

             Trauma is the leading cause of death for ages 1-34 in Wisconsin, and the fourth leading cause of death overall. The massive expense of treatment and rehabilitation in addition to the loss of life make trauma a major health concern.

             In response to this problem the State of Wisconsin has implemented a Statewide Trauma Care System intended to integrate and enhance trauma care across the continuum from pre hospital to acute care and rehabilitation. Also integral to the Trauma Care System will be injury prevention programs.

             A key aspect of the Statewide Trauma Care System is the regionalization of trauma care. Having organized trauma care regions allows each region to design treatment and prevention standards based upon specific and potentially unique local needs. Regionalization also promotes enhanced communication and cooperation through the organizational assistance and guidance of the Regional Trauma Advisory Council (RTAC) for each area. Southwest Region and the other eight regions each report to the State Trauma Advisory Committee. Health Care Facilities, EMS and other public service agencies affiliate themselves with which ever RTAC they choose.  Affiliation is strongly encouraged due to the numerous benefits involved.

             A critically important core philosophy is the value of consistency across the State of Wisconsin, and across the United States. Consistent standards of trauma care allow agencies to work with each other with greater speed and ease, particularly during multiple or mass casualty incidents. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) was designed around this core philosophy, and has already proven itself effective in numerous exercises and real life situations, not least of which was the massive Operation Heartland Defense exercise in West Salem, Wisconsin on August 8, 2004.

 

Current SWRTAC Officers

Chairperson: Carl Ukkestad MN Department of Transportation

Vice Chair Jane Henthorne FSMC

Vice Chair Jerry Frank Vernon County

Sue Einerwold GLMC

Mike Foster WTC

Tracy Myhre Tomah Memorial Hospital

Bob Hess Sparta Ambulance

Melody Scmitz GLMC

Seth Barna GLMC

Coordinator: Greg Breen EMT-B  608-792-3074  gbreen7@charter.net                 

Southwest brown area of map