Readiness Costs for a Statewide Trauma System

Introduction: Tennessee allocates funding to support the statewide trauma system. To better understand the costs of trauma center readiness outlined by ACS, our legislature challenged the trauma council to accurately determine the exact value for our state. Methods: Readiness components were devised from the 2014 edition of the Optimal Resources Document and state guidelines. Cost queries were sent to financial leadership of hospitals participating in the state trauma system for 2022. Data was deidentified and values vetted by an independent accounting firm. Values are reported in dollars for both state and average costs per trauma center by level. Costs were broken into administrative, clinical staff, OR availability and education/outreach. Results: Data was submitted from 5 level I, 1 level II, 8 level III, and 4 CRPC (Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center). Total statewide costs totaled $171,000,000. Average costs for all components per level I/II was 20.6, level III 3.6, and CRPC 4.4 million dollars. The range across level I/II was 13.4 to 25.8 million dollars. Average I/II OR cost was 2.4 million and the highest provider cost was anesthesia at 2.3 million. Average education/outreach was $107,000 at Level I/II and includes registry and manager/coordinator costs for training. Conclusions: Trauma readiness is extremely costly at roughly $20,000,000 per level I/II center, $3,760,000 per level III, and $4,350,000 per CRPC. This value has doubled from that previously reported by a neighboring state. State and national leaders must be aware of costs and the need of support for trauma care when allocating health care funding.