Field Trauma Triage Guidelines Demonstration Project

Overview

The USA Center is committed to strengthening resilience in communities across the nation. In cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), the USA Center is proud to introduce the Field Trauma Triage Guidelines (FTTG) Demonstration Project. The main objective of this initiative is to support and evaluate the deployment of the 2021 FTTG within state, local, and tribal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems, with a particular focus on those that provide patient care coordination (PCC) to rural and underserved communities. By assisting EMS agencies in adopting evidence-based, innovative practices, this project aims to enhance trauma care, improve patient outcomes, and ensure equitable access to critical services for communities.

Problem & Proposed Solution

A significant number of EMS agencies encounter challenges in the effective dissemination, training, and implementation of the 2021 FTTG due to insufficient resources and staffing. Consequently, existing treatment protocols and training materials related to the 2021 FTTG are not consistently understood or widely adopted within EMS systems. Furthermore, the implementation of 2021 FTTG strategies remains inconsistent, with some EMS agencies struggling to develop and sustain comprehensive 2021 FTTG programs, while others are actively seeking evidence-based approaches to improve the effectiveness of their 2021 FTTG adoption and integration. To address this, the NHTSA and the NCDMPH seek to enhance the adoption and implementation of the 2021 FTTG among EMS agencies. The USA Center was selected to lead this project due to its extensive experience in designing and delivering training programs, as well as its expertise in public health and disaster preparedness.

Background

Effective triage is critical to patient survival in emergency situations, particularly during multi-casualty incidents and motor vehicle crashes. For over thirty years, the FTTG has provided standardized protocols to help prioritize and manage care for the most critically injured patients. The wider implementation of the updated 2021 FTTG has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of triage decisions. By adopting these updated guidelines, EMS systems can better prioritize care, reduce fatalities and injuries, and strengthen the nation’s overall medical and public health preparedness for disasters.

Project Objective

The primary goal of this project is to support and evaluate the deployment of the 2021 FTTG across state, local, and tribal EMS systems, with a particular focus on those that serve rural and underserved communities.

Project Approach

1. Selection of EMS Agencies: EMS agencies will be selected to represent a diverse range of organizational types and population demographics, ensuring broad applicability of the findings.

2. Provision of Resources and Support: Selected EMS agencies will receive funding, resources, and technical assistance to create tailored implementation strategies. These strategies will serve as models for other EMS systems, promoting wider adoption of the 2021 FTTG across the nation.

3. Development of Best Practices Guide: A supplementary guide outlining “best practices” for implementing the 2021 FTTG will be developed to assist agencies in effectively applying the guidelines.

Request for Proposals

Application Instructions: Please check back soon for the full RFP instructions.

Application Due Date: TBA

Contact Information

Jason Moats, Ph.D., FSCEO, CTT
Director, USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness
Texas A&M University School of Public Health
jbmoats@tamu.edu
(979) 324-9732